The Syracuse Orange overcame the distraction of the Bernie Fine abuse allegations this season to post the best regular-season record in the school's history, 30-1.
Now, with the Big East Tournament going on and the NCAA Tournament around the corner, the Orange is facing another potential distraction -- the news of an investigation into potential drug-policy violations in the SU basketball program. In the Rivals video above, Greg Anthony and Pat Forde, of Yahoo Sports, discuss if this issue will become a distraction for the Orange. Forde, along with Charles Robinson, broke the drug-policy story.
Here is some of what they said:
Anthony: It could be (a distraction), but I don't think there will be any issues for a couple reasons. One, we've already gone through a story, or an issue, concerning the program concerning their program with Bernie Fine and they handled that just fine, thank you very much, as they go 30-1 over the course of the season. Secondly, and more importantly I think, is that the university and the coach have the ability to control the environment. It's not like a professional environment, where (the student-athletes would) be bombarded by question after question.
Forde: Greg is absolutely right about them already weathering one off-court storm. ... They're not going to able to control the environment as much, though, as Greg thinks. They're going to the Big East Tournament in New York. There's different media rules there. All of a sudden they're going by Big East Conference rules and If they say open the locker rooms, you've got to open the locker room. There's going to be reporters there from all over, especially from New York City, who are going to be asking these guys questions. Then from there you're going to NCAA Tournament, where there are absolutely open locker rooms and you're not going to shield these kids as much as you could in the regular season when you are playing by your own media rules.
» It's March, meaning it's UConn's time to shine [Yahoo Sports]
» Wait ... why are the Louisville Cardinals wearing orange? [Louisville Courier-Journal]
» UConn recovery following a familiar script [ESPN.com]
» Jim Boeheim on his legacy: 'I don't worry about any of that'
» Big East commissioner: League 'open' to discussions about SU, Pitt leaving early
» Live updates and post-game Q&A: Syracuse vs. Connecticut
» Orange Scouting Report: SU vs. UConn
» Bud & Brent: How important is the Big East Tournament this season to SU fans?
» Mike's Mailbox: What will you miss most about the Big East?
» After missing first two meetings with SU, UConn's Jim Calhoun is back
» Complete Big East Tournament coverage
Syracuse's CJ Fair takes a jumper as he and his teammates get ready to warm up on the Madison Square Garden floor before their noon game against UConn in the quarter-finals of the Big East Tournament. Dennis Nett/The Post-Standard