Of the three parties involved, not one knew the answer. The last spot in Syracuse’s starting lineup appears up for grabs. As for who will grab it – no one knows.

The Syracuse men’s basketball team’s head coach, Jim Boeheim, sarcastically looked down at his watch and said, ‘Well, we haven’t started practice yet. So, how would I know?’

Josh Wright and Demetris Nichols, the two players vying for the last spot in the starting lineup, both gave the same response: ‘I really have no idea.’

With junior point guard Billy Edelin currently ineligible for the first semester, the current favorite to join the backcourt seems to be Wright, a freshman point guard out of Utica. A Wright-and-Gerry McNamara duo would offer SU a more complete backcourt.

If SU started Nichols and McNamara – which the Orange did last year – McNamara would have to play point guard, since he is most able to handle the ball.

Wright offers another advantage – speed.

‘I feel like I have the advantage over anybody,’ Wright said. ‘I feel like I can beat anybody on the court.’

What about track star Michael Johnson?

‘Well,’ Wright said, ‘that’s on the track. That’s not on the court.’

Nichols’ advantage is experience. After Edelin left the Orange last year, Nichols started 17 games and averaged 4.2 points.

‘It gave me a year of experience,’ Nichols said. ‘My shot is pretty good now. It’s where I want it to be.

‘Josh is one of the fastest kids on the team. He’s made an impression on me. But it’s up to Coach Boeheim.’

In his final year at Proctor High School, Wright averaged 33.3 points, 5.2 assists and 3.6 steals.

Hakim Warrick passed up an almost-guaranteed spot on an NBA roster, millions of dollars and a multi-year contract.

But, as Warrick explained it, his return was worth it.

‘I came back because I wanted to be the best player in the country,’ said Warrick, a forward. ‘I want to win a national championship and be an All-American. What better way is there to end your career?’

Over the summer, SU forward Matt Gorman dyed his short, thin hair blond.

Now, the SU players call him Marshall Mathers, the rapper known as Eminem.

‘It looks good,’ Warrick said. ‘I was just surprised when I saw it.’

Gerry McNamara’s inconsistent shooting last year culminated with a 2-for-17 performance in SU’s 84-56 loss to Connecticut.

And though his left groin injury was apparent, the severity was not. McNamara spent two months completely detached from basketball this summer rehabbing the injury.

This season, it should translate to more success than McNamara’s 38.5 field-goal percentage last year.

‘Well, Gerry’s gonna be Gerry,’ Boeheim said. ‘He’s going to go out and play his game, and I don’t expect anything different from that. He’s maturing, getting better.’

SU displayed its new uniforms, on which Syracuse is stitched in blue on the front. The shorts also carry the new logo. Reviews were mixed. ‘It’s missing the trim,’ Warrick said. ‘You gotta miss the logo. But they’ll grow on me.’ … SU’s high expectations aren’t distracting the seniors. Said center Craig Forth: ‘Obviously when you have a team that’s really experienced it’s easier to be successful. You can’t rely on that as everything in a season, so we’re going to have to put in our work and do everything we did last season and the season before.’

Published on October 17, 2004 at 12:00 pm