MBB | On The Beat: Marquette postgame 3/21/11

When he wants: Amid grumblings of retirement, Boeheim remains steadfast in position at helm of SU

People close to Syracuse basketball have no trouble putting into words what Jim Boeheim means to the program.

In fact, there was one all-encompassing word that did the job. Scoop Jardine, Bernie Fine, Dave Bing, Roosevelt Bouie, Leo Rautins and more all picked that single word to sum up Boeheim's place in Orange basketball lore.

On the rise: Triche strives for breakout junior season after showing flashes as sophomore

Brandon Triche sat on the sidelines and watched Syracuse's 2010-11 season reach its distasteful conclusion.

He had been in command earlier, scoring eight points in the first five minutes of the game. But a fall and a bruised tailbone forced him into spectator mode for the final 15-plus minutes as the Orange fell to Marquette in the NCAA Tournament's third round.

Expanding his presence: Fair plans to build on successful freshman season by broadening his role

The 3-pointer from the corner against Cal State-Los Angeles provided a peek at the past and future for C.J. Fair.

Last year, it would have been completely unorthodox for the 6-foot-8 Fair to confidently bury a shot from long range. He attempted just three 3s as a freshman, making only one.

Taking the torch: Coffey appears ready to take reins of Syracuse offense in sophomore season

Erica Morrow knew exactly how Rachel Coffey felt last year. Three years earlier, Morrow was a highly touted freshman struggling to adjust on the court at Syracuse.

After dominating in high school, Morrow received a rude awakening at practices in which mistakes piled up, the coaches criticized every little thing and the physical play wore her down. Morrow's confidence was broken, and it took time to build back up.

Height of her game: After breakout season, Alexander ready to lead Syracuse on both ends of floor

Joe Alexander refused to make it easy. In the driveway of his Ontario home, he spent hours playing games of 21 with his daughter, Kayla, trying to build up her basketball acumen.

The 6-foot-5 former Niagara forward challenged her as if she had been playing the sport as long as he had. If she was going to win, she was going to have to beat her father without the benefit of any intentionally missed shots.

Major player: Butler faces rebuilding year after back-to-back national championship game appearances

Every time Matthew Graves drives past Lucas Oil Stadium, he can't help but reminisce about Butler's dream run to the 2010 NCAA Final Four — one that started with a similar drive.

As the team bus drove to the airport to travel to its first round game in California that year, it went by the arena in downtown Indianapolis. Graves, Butler's associate head coach, remembers one of the players saying how neat it would be to return in a few weeks to play there in the Final Four, just 10 miles from their campus.

Youth movement: UConn loses Walker but features talented young team trying to defend national title

NEW YORK — Jeremy Lamb sat in his chair during Big East media day, flanked by teammates Shabazz Napier on his right and Alex Oriakhi on the left. Mobbed by reporters, Lamb politely answered each and every question, occasionally glancing down at his phone and then looking back up to finish his answer.