Our fascination with the ‘Cuse began in the ’80s, when the Big East was on TV frequently and we liked to pretend we were Sherman Douglas while running the fast break (he was a bit more flashy than Georgetown’s Michael Jackson). Billy Owens losing to Richmond was a colossal letdown. The high point came during the 1996 title run, which ended in a loss to Kentucky, but was so memorable that we can still fondly remember Al McGuire dancing with the team after beating Kansas in Denver, as well as John Wallace’s Herculean performance against Georgia in a sweet overtime victory.

In recent years, though, our interest in the program has waned. Other than G-Mac’s legendary senior season and beating Kansas for the title, positive memories have been scant. Which brings us to the transgression of tatted-up Syracuse guard Eric Devendorf (a legend in Bay City, Michigan!). He’s been suspended from school for the year (appeal pending) for allegedly punching a female student.

SU junior Kimberly Smith said that Devendorf hit her in the lower jaw Nov. 1. Devendorf’s lawyer has said the player was defending himself from a “woman who seconds before had almost run him over with her car.” … “He (Devendorf’s lawyer) said the board ignored the fact that Kim Smith, the 20-year old student who says Devendorf punched her in the face, was drinking at a frat party. Sullivan also said Smith broke a New York State law by driving after consuming alcohol. He added that according to the Syracuse city police report Smith did not appear to have any signs of a fight on her body. He also said that Smith did not have a single witness who could verify her story. He was also very disappointed that the school overlooked the fact that Smith used racially insensitive language during the argument, language that Sullivan said goes against the University’s message of tolerance.”

Jim Boeheim, who has stumbled recruiting over the last few years, has decided to rule with an iron fist.

“The process is ongoing, and it is not appropriate to comment until the process is concluded,” basketball coach Jim Boeheim said in a statement released by the university’s office of athletic communications.

Everything looked promising for the ‘Cuse after beating Florida and Kansas a couple weeks back, but the loss of Devendorf would be crushing. That’d force Andy Rautins into the starting lineup, and leave the bench with two freshman and a sophomore who isn’t used to heavy minutes. The real hope is for next year - there are only two seniors, neither of which is a factor - but that would only be the cause if Harris, Flynn and Onuaku pass on the pros.