Judah Mintz did not start for the first time in his Syracuse career.
Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images
SYRACUSE, N.Y — On Wednesday night against the Boston College Eagles, the Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team was without its star player in the starting lineup. For the first time in his college career Judah Mintz didn’t start.
Adrian Autry made the decision to withhold Mintz from the startling lineup.
“Just a little violation of team rules. Nothing serious. We have moved on. I expect him to be ready to go Saturday,” Autry said.
Syracuse plays North Carolina in Chapel Hill this Saturday. Autry expects Mintz to start that game.
Mintz was informed of the decision earlier in the day on Tuesday. He wasn’t necessarily surprised, but wouldn’t offer an explanation as to why he didn’t start. Mintz understands the importance of being the leader of this Syracuse team. He leads the team in scoring with 19.1 points per game.
“Me and Qua [Quadir Copeland] have to be leaders on this team,” Mintz divulged. “Whether I messed up off the court or I’m on the court playing with my team, I gotta be the leader. I was here last year. We got a lot of new faces and I gotta stay consistent no matter what’s happening to me personally.”
Mintz did start for the second half. He ended up playing 31 minutes against Boston College, but was held to ten points on 1-7 shooting from the floor. He didn’t make a shot inside the arc for the first time in his college career.
Mintz had previously started all of his 46 games at Syracuse. He hasn’t come off the bench since he was at Oak Hill Academy. From the Syracuse locker room Tuesday night, he seemed eager to turn the page.
“I’ll be ready to play, start the game at North Carolina,” Mintz said.
