Nicole Michael shivered in the below-freezing temperatures, answering questions for the media. As time went on she began to huddle up, shivering the same joints and bones that had to play nearly 32 minutes a game last year.

This year it’s a different story, as she is only logging 25.6 minutes a game. In fact, all the players returning from a year ago are seeing fewer minutes, which they all agreed should help them in the long run.

‘I’m going to have my bones still connected to me,’ Michael said. ‘It was very painful last year, playing so many minutes and not (having) a lot of players.’

The newly ranked No. 22 Orange (16-3, 4-2) have its highest ranking in team history and will take it to Chicago and face Big East rival No. 23 DePaul (15-4, 4-2). SU will need all of its players as it tries to knock off its first ranked opponent this year.

Head Coach Quentin Hillsman is not afraid to use all of his players, going to the bench early and often. It’s easy when he looks down and sees experienced players like Fantasia Goodwin and Cintia Johnson, both of who started a year ago.

Goodwin, a senior, is having her best season of her career so far. The forward is nearly averaging a double-double a game with 13 points per game and 9.6 rebounds.

‘It’s cool with me,’ Goodwin said of coming off the bench. ‘As long as we are winning, and I am contributing even if it’s with a rebound or a point, I just feel good about it.’

Syracuse is in a unique situation not a lot of teams find themselves. When the second unit checks in the game, occasionally they are more experienced than the starters. The experience off the bench is one of the reasons why the team is off to the best start in school history.

‘I think that’s what makes us so tough,’ freshman guard Erica Morrow said. ‘That we have that experience coming off the bench and we just don’t have newcomers, and inexperience coming off, but we have wisdom coming off.’

Syracuse has 10 players averaging double-digit minutes on the season. There are 200 minutes of playing time to fill in a regulation game. On average, the bench will contribute 76.6 of those minutes for the Orange.

Compare that to last season, when only eight players were on the court for more than 10 minutes. The additions of Morrow, Chandrea Jones and Tasha Harris opened up scoring roles off the bench for Goodwin and Johnson. Marisa Gobuty, also new to the team this year, solidifies the bench.

‘(Hillsman) told me that even before I came to school that that’s what he really believed in,’ Gobuty said. ‘In order to win games you have to have a strong bench. And a lot of people having double-figure minutes, so I think that’s have always been a philosophy of his.’

Starting on the bench, as evidence of Goodwin and Johnson’s willingness to do so, is not looked upon as a negative. Goodwin still averages 24.6 minutes a game, the fourth highest on the team. Some players are suited better to come in and provide energy when the game seems to be lagging.

Energy can be spent quickly especially in the Big East, in which 11 of the 16 teams in the conference play nine or more players double-digit minutes. In fact, only Villanova and West Virginia play fewer than 8 players that log less than 10 minutes.

‘It’s huge because when you get into these Big East games whether it’s home or on the road, you’re going to need some experience and some veteran leaders, and they’ve been doing that all year long,’ Hillsman said

Hillsman walked on the bus to greet his team with his brown beanie and leather jacket with a fur collar to protect his body from the same cold Michael was dealing with. Last year when the winter elements caught up with Hillsman’s team, postseason aspirations were already grim. But this year, with a No. 22 ranking and talk of an NCAA tournament bid, rested legs is another thing he’s going to have to worry about.

‘(The spread out minutes) should help,’ Hillsman said. ‘In that latter part of the season hopefully we’ll be playing in the postseason, and hopefully that will play dividends at that time.’

Published on January 28, 2008 at 12:00 pm