Pitarresi: Rautins has developed into valuable player

Andy Rautins had a strange line in Syracuse University’s 86-51 basketball victory over Colgate Monday.

 

Rautins, known for his shooting, was 0 fof 5 from the field and 0 for 4 on 3-pointers. Not good.

 

But Rautins also had six assists against two turnovers, and a couple of those passes were beauties. I also thought he had a couple of steals, although it doesn’t say so on the state sheet.

 

The point is this. Rautins, who a lot of people felt could not play at SU’s level when he came out of Jamesville-DeWitt High School, can do more than just shoot, and he has to. Rautins is a good passer, and it annoys me when people say he isn’t a good defensive player. I think against a lot of teams he is pretty good, certainly as good as most of his teammates.

 

Rautins obviously has gotten bigger and stronger after being out a year with an injured knee, and he obviously has benefited from a high level of competition with the Canadian National team. He might have gotten his chance because he is the son of former Orange star Leo Rautins, but he doesnt' get his playing time because of that. He can play, and he is a valuable member of a very strong team.