SYRACUSE -- The Syracuse Basketball team has already had a season full of potential distractions. Allegations of abuse led to assistant coach Bernie Fine being fired and put the Orange in the center of a national media spotlight in the early part of the season. Recently the team lost starting center Fab Melo for three games as he dealt with academic issues. Through those issues and the increased scrutiny that comes with a top two ranking, all the team has done is keep winning . On Wednesday, SU fans said the Orange have already shown they can overcome larger distractions so the defamation lawsuit against head coach Jim Boeheim shouldn't be a distraction.
"I think they're past it. I mean it's there but it's not on the forefront of the team. I think they're past it so they can focus on the games," said SU fan Tommy Rocco.
"They've been through a lot and they've shown their resiliency. As the season goes on, hopefully they get into March and they can make a a big run and we're standing there in New Orleans," said SU fan Ed Baron
The next court hearing in Jim Boeheim's defamation lawsuit is scheduled for just a few days before the NCAA Tournament begins. Longtime SU fan and Buffalo WGR sports radio host Sal Capaccio says the Orange will keep their focus on the right court.
"The whole Bernie Fine thing, everybody said can they handle this? They did. They handled the Fab Melo situation quite well so they've had a lot of things come at them and they seem to have tunnel vision. They practice every day like they're supposed to practice and play every night like they're supposed to play," said Capaccio in Syracuse on Wednesday.
When a reporter started to ask Boeheim about the defamation lawsuit in his post-game press conference, Boeheim cut the reporter off and refused to speak on the issue.
