Scholarship hit will hinder Syracuse

ByJEFF BORZELLO
March 6, 2015, 2:30 PM

— -- The NCAA announced its findings and punishment for the Syracuse basketball program on Friday, suspending coach Jim Boeheim for nine games, taking away scholarships and vacating wins from five different seasons. While there was no additional postseason ban -- the school self-imposed a postseason ban for this season last month -- the Orange will be significantly hampered for the next few seasons.

From a recruiting perspective, the scholarship reduction is a notable hindrance. Syracuse was docked three scholarships per season for four years. Division I programs get 13 scholarships per season, which includes players sitting out due to transfer or suspension.

While Syracuse hasn't announced whether it will begin its scholarship punishment next year or the following year, it's likely the Orange will decide to wait. Syracuse already has 13 players scheduled to be on scholarship next season, including incoming freshmen Malachi Richardson (No. 19 in ESPN 100), Moustapha Diagne (No. 55), Tyler Lydon (No. 64) and Franklin Howard (No. 91).

"I still will be there," Richardson told ESPN.com. "It's just something everybody will have to deal with, and then the program will be back on track."

"I'm still 100 percent committed," Howard added. "Honestly, I was a little surprised."

Boeheim and his staff have been in pursuit of uncommitted big man Thomas Bryant (No. 22) for a couple of years, and Syracuse was considered to be the favorite for his signature. The Orange could theoretically still go after Bryant, but it would complicate the scholarship situation even further. Indiana -- where Bryant will visit this weekend -- and Missouri could get a boost from this news, while Kentucky and Kansas are also interested in Bryant.

For the 2016 season, Syracuse has 11 players scheduled to be on scholarship -- with one commitment already in the fold, ESPN 60 junior Matthew Moyer (No. 58).

As a result, the Orange will have their hands tied for that season. Chris McCullough is an NBA prospect and could decide to leave after next season, while DaJuan Coleman's injuries are also a consideration. However, even if both players are no longer on the roster for the 2016-17 season, Syracuse is already at its 10-scholarship limit. If the Orange go over the limit, players will have to transfer or give up their scholarship, with the former solution the more likely one.

Boeheim tends to use a short rotation and rarely goes 10- or 11-deep, but that's irrelevant to the situation. Syracuse has had only 10 available scholarship players this season -- because of the surprising early departures of Tyler Ennis and Jerami Grant and some recruiting misses -- so it's easy to see what happens to a 10-man team. Coleman and McCullough are both out with injuries, while Chinonso Obokoh is not ready for extended minutes yet. Moreover, after Ennis left last spring, freshman Kaleb Joseph was thrust into the starting point guard position a year earlier than expected. Going 18-12 (with one game to play) and being a middle-of-the-pack ACC team is not what Syracuse fans are expecting.

"I think this makes everyone hungrier to win," Howard said. "I think with the talent we have coming in and what's already there we have a chance to make a run. So I think this makes everyone more focus and brings everyone together."

Having only 10 scholarships to use severely hinders a program's ability to build depth or create contingency plans. Syracuse suddenly can't afford to waste a scholarship, meaning the Orange can't really misread or misjudge a player on the recruiting trail, which makes it more difficult to take a transfer who needs to sit out a year.

Not adding to the postseason ban was a good thing for Syracuse's recruiting prospects, but the Orange certainly didn't get off without a punishment. The scholarship reduction will have a significant impact on the Orange's ability to add players until 2020.