NEW YORK CITY — After waiting weeks for a decision on his eligibility, Billy Edelin will now have to wait months just to see the basketball court.

At a hearing yesterday, an NCAA subcommittee upheld the NCAA staff’s decision that Edelin, a freshman point guard on the Syracuse men’s basketball team, will miss the first 12 regular season contests for participating in a recreational league last year.

Edelin will first be available on Jan. 18 against Pittsburgh. He will miss Big East games against Seton Hall (Jan. 8) and Boston College (Jan. 11) and a premiere non-conference game against Missouri (Jan. 13).

Edelin, his father William, and his high school coach at Oak Hill Academy (Va.), Steve Smith, could not be reached for comment.

Edelin sat out last year with an indefinite, university-imposed supsension after two girls accused him of sexual assault and rape.

Initially, in a postgame press conference following SU’s season-opening 70-63 loss at Madison Square Garden, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said he wouldn’t comment.

He didn’t. He ranted.

“It’s ridiculous,” Boeheim said. “It’s so beyond anything else I’ve ever seen. I’ve said to the NCAA and I’ve said publicly that I didn’t know the rule. If anybody should have been punished, it’s me.”

Edelin violated the NCAA’s rule that prohibits student-athletes from participating in non-school sanctioned athletic events. Last year, the point guard played in 12 rec-league games. The 12-game suspension — a “one-for-one” penalty — represents the stiffest measure the NCAA could have taken against Edelin.

“(Edelin) played in these rec games against guys who were 50 years old. I’m sure that benefited him tremendously,” Boeheim said sarcastically.

“The NCAA, every time I read something about them, it’s about trying to help student-athletes. It’s about compassion. But this kid did not know (the rule). If he should have known, it’s our fault.

“I felt, had he known the rule, I would have understood. But not knowing the rule, with the competition level on top of that, I’ve never seen anything like this in 30 years in the business. It’s really total disbelief. I’d rather take a 10-game suspension myself, because it all comes back to me. I should have known, and I should have told him.”

In Edelin’s absence, fellow freshman Gerry McNamara started at point guard and scored 14 points. Josh Pace, another guard who figures to see increasing playing time during Edelin’s suspension, added 10 points and six rebounds.

With Edelin out, however, the Orangemen only have eight scholarship players currently available. Three are freshman, and three are sophomores.

“It’s destroying the whole year,” Boeheim said, “because you get ready for these 12 games, and then all of a sudden, you have to get someone else back in there.

“I’m so hurt by (the decision) that I’m not even mad. I’ve always felt, in most cases, the NCAA tries to have some sort of compassion about things. This … I don’t know.

“If you gave me a choice to go 10-2 without (Billy) or 6-6 with him, I’d go 6-6 with the kid, because I just feel so bad for him. It simply isn’t right.”

Assistant coach Troy Weaver, who remained in Syracuse until yesterday afternoon to be with Edelin for a conference call with the NCAA, declined to comment on the decision.

Many Syracuse players, though, admitted that they were surprised at the severity of the suspension.

“It’s messed up. That’s all I’ve got to say,” center Jeremy McNeil said. “When I first saw Coach Weaver today, he looked mad. I asked him, and he said that Billy’s out for 12 games. It’s just messed up.”

“Losing Billy, it’s a real big loss,” Pace said. “He is going to be a real contributor this year. At least he was going to contribute.”

Published on November 14, 2002 at 12:00 pm