Fresh Approach Works for Them

Carmelo Anthony has taken over the Final Four. He has wrapped his extra-large hands around the tournament and slam-dunked away this idea that Syracuse is stodgy and backward, stuck with its old-fashioned zone defense and its slump-shouldered, owl-eyed coach who has been often accused of whining too loudly but never of smiling too often.

Jim Boeheim, in his 27th year as head coach at Syracuse, has given Anthony a freedom that control-freak coaches don’t often hand a freshman. Boeheim walked off the Superdome court Saturday with his arm around Anthony’s shoulders. “One more year,” the Orange-wearing fans were singing to Anthony. Probably not, but they should be thankful for the one year Anthony has given them. He may just give Boeheim his first national title.

Syracuse had beaten Texas, 95-84, in the Final Four semifinals and Boeheim will coach the Orangemen in the title game for the third time. A charm, maybe? Anthony sure is.

The loose-limbed freshman from Baltimore scored 33 points, had 14 rebounds, plus three steals. On one Syracuse possession, Texas fouled Anthony three times -- Brandon Mouton twice, T.J. Ford once. Finally, on the third foul, Anthony went to the line, smiling, giggling and shaking his head. He made both free throws and ran toward Texas’ basket wiggling his fingers, dancing on the tips of his toes. His team led, 59-56, and this game was fun.

“I smile all the time, even when I’m in a bad mood,” Anthony said. “I try to keep a smile on my face.”

“Why shouldn’t he smile?” senior Kueth Duany said. “I mean, he makes all of us smile.”

Why is it that high school player LeBron James is considered the NBA’s top draft choice? What is it James has done, can do, will do, that Anthony hasn’t done, does do and will do?

There were the two inbounds plays where Anthony caught and shot and made three-pointers. There was no hesitancy in Anthony’s catching of the ball, no thought before he shot. He just did it. These weren’t bad shots or bad ideas. They were filled with nerve and confidence, but Anthony is not cocky.

And Boeheim is not afraid to let the freshman be creative. He does not scream at Anthony or wag a long finger in Anthony’s happy face if a shot seems ill-advised or a pass seems unplanned or not part of the offensive scheme. These mistakes are accepted because most of what Anthony does is make the game compelling.

Texas guard T.J. Ford was supposed to be the key to this semifinal. Smart guys, many of them on TV, said that Ford would prove to be the best player in the game, in the tournament, in the country, that Ford would break down the Syracuse zone with his quickness and cleverness.

Yet Ford wasn’t even the best guard in the game. Syracuse freshman Gerry McNamara stuck out his chest, squared his shoulders and took nerveless aim, time after time, at the basket. He shot made six of 12 shots, all jumpers, he scored 19 points, he had four steals, he took charges and he was in charge of the Syracuse offense. Ford had 12 points, 13 assists and was unselfish, but not dominating.

“You know,” Boeheim said of his two rookies, “they’re unusual freshmen. I felt that from the beginning. Gerry won the state championship in Pennsylvania last year, 44 points in the first half against a team I thought would beat them by 20. The other guy, I don’t think I need to say anything about him any more. I think he’s shown what he is all about.”

Forever, it seems, Boeheim has been unappreciated. His teams would often play “ugly.” They would be bad shooters, miss their free throws, be filled with talent but not with heart or will or the ability to hand the sad-eyed man on the bench his big win. Because Boeheim recruits so heavily in New York, because he has been often associated with the so-called street agents, the men who scout out grade schoolers and negotiate their futures, Boeheim has been hung with the reputation of being slightly shady.

Yet Syracuse has never suffered the ugliness that dampened the end of the college season with academic scandals tarnishing Georgia, St. Bonaventure and Fresno State.

And Boeheim has gathered on this team an endearing group of personalities. Anthony lets everyone know how much he enjoys the game. McNamara is earnest in his hard work. Hakim Warrick, a sophomore from Friends Central, a Quaker high school in Philadelphia, is demonstrative in his dunking and his congratulating of both teammates and opponents.

Syracuse teams used to score 50 points and be happy when the opponents scored 49. This Syracuse team isn’t afraid to score and Boeheim isn’t afraid to let it.

Like Kansas Coach Roy Williams, Boeheim has been burdened by the idea he has had the talent to win national championships and is therefore lacking because he hasn’t.

“Nobody’s going to believe this,” Boeheim said, “but Monday night is only about the players. I’ve had a great career. If I never coach another game, I’d still be happy. These kids put their heart and soul into this season. I want them to win it for themselves. I’m a grown man. I’ve lost a lot of games. I can take it.”

Boeheim means it. The players aren’t burdened by their coach. They have been freed by their coach.

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Diane Pucin can be reached at diane.pucin@latimes.com