After waiting half a month, Billy Edelin and the Syracuse men’s basketball team must wait at least another day.

Originally, the NCAA was supposed to decide yesterday whether or not the point guard would have to serve a suspension — estimated by various news sources to be between three and 12 games — for playing in a recreational league last year.

The hearing, though, was pushed back until either today or early tomorrow, Edelin said. Syracuse opens its season against Memphis tomorrow at Madison Square Garden in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.

“We’re hopeful a decision will be made before Thursday,” Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim said. “It makes it very difficult to prepare for the season.”

In the meantime, the Orangemen plan to use fellow freshman Gerry McNamara at point guard. McNamara started in SU’s first exhibition game last Tuesday, playing 28 minutes and scoring five points.

Edelin said he will be in New York City on Thursday whether he is suspended or not.

“It’s very frustrating for Billy,” Boeheim said. “He had no idea he was violating anything by participating in a rec league. We just have to hope the committee understands that.”

The NCAA prohibits competitive play outside of school-sanctioned events, even when a player is “withdrawn” from college. Last year, Edelin was serving a university-imposed, indefinite suspension after two female SU students accused him of rape and sexual assault.

Published on November 12, 2002 at 12:00 pm