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Jim Boeheim on Syracuse center DaJuan Coleman: ‘If we get him, it will be a bonus’

Jim Boeheim DaJuan Coleman

Syracuse lost starters C.J. Fair and Tyler Ennis -- along with sixth man, Jerami Grant -- to graduation and early entries to the NBA Draft this past spring. With the Orange several weeks away from the start of the season, the status of DaJuan Coleman, who started 12 of 13 games he played in last season, is still in question.

The 6-foot-10 Coleman missed the final 19 games of the season with a knee injury, which required season-ending surgery. It was reported earlier this fall that Syracuse won’t know the status of Coleman until November. On Tuesday, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports was in Syracuse to discuss Coleman with Jim Boeheim, and the Hall of Fame coach had a less than inspiring answer.

“No we haven’t,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim told CBSSports.com when he was asked if he was planning to have Coleman as part of Syracuse’s rotation during the upcoming year. “If we get him, we’ll be happy to have him but we’re going to prepare for that spot with everybody else. If we get him, it will be a bonus.”

Coleman averaged 4.3 points and 4.2 rebounds in his 13 games in 2013-2014.

Senior Rakeem Christmas returns to the Syracuse interior as a familiar face, but without the Coleman, the Orange frontline will consist of mostly newcomers and players looking to take on much bigger roles for this season. Chris McCullough, a five-star commit, joins the program as a versatile 6-foot-10 forward. Tyler Roberson and B.J. Johnson are two returning forwards who look to crack the rotation as sophomores. Center Chinonso Obokoh is eligible to play this season after being forced to sit out last year. Since his senior year of high school the 6-foot-9 Obokoh has gained 45 pounds.

Syracuse begins the season against Kennesaw State on Nov. 14 inside the Carrier Dome.

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