Willie Deane: Odd Man In

By Andrew Leffler
Staff photos

SYRACUSE, N.Y.  -- Every army needs a general to lead it to battle. A general must be poised yet selfless. When the going gets tough, a general must be able to adapt, even if it means leaving his own comfort zone.

These traits are all indicative of former Purdue point guard, Willie Deane, who will lead Boeheim's Army in this years The Basketball Tournament (TBT) which opens play in Philadelphia on Saturday night.



A world perspective

After falling short on fulfilling his aspirations to join the NBA, Deane took his talents overseas. Playing abroad, Deane says he learned much more than basketball. He learned to adjust.

It "opened my mind to a lot of different things," Deane said in a courtside interview Thursday, after scrimmaging against current Syracuse players at the Carmelo Anthony Center. "I was able to experience a lot of different cultures, ethnicities, and languages."

Deane has traveled the globe. Visiting Egypt was a childhood dream of his, he said. International basketball has given him different perspective on life. "It has allowed me to see things most people in the States have only seen on National Geographic."

It was while playing in Russia that Deane  realized that basketball is a language in itself. With no translator, and speaking not a word of Russian, he had to find some way he could be in touch with his teammates. This is when his skills as a point guard stepped in.

"I was able to communicate with guys through basketball and we didn't speak the same language, but we were able to get on the same page when we were on the court."

Connecting to Orange

Playing international basketball for over a decade, Deane had gotten to know former Syracuse guard Eric Devendorf, now a teammate on Boeheim's Army. And as a New York native he was well-acquainted with Syracuse basketball.

"Here everyone knows me. They had a chance to see me in high school. Everyone here is familiar with me, and they have welcomed me with open arms.Even though I did not go here, [Syracuse] makes me feel like I did."

Syracuse alum, and Boeheim's Army General Manager Kevin Belbey said he was unsure of the impact Deane would have on the team, until "Willie came out and blew everyone's expectations away."

"He is everything you want in a point guard," Belbey added. "He is calm and collected. Makes the right decision at the right time. He knows when to score, when to pass.He is a quiet leader who is a perfect point guard in my eyes. Not only is he a great player, he's a great person."

As Boeheim's Army prepares for battle, with minds set on winning The Basketball Tournament, the
troops will be looking to the only non-SU alum on the roster to help turn hope their hard work and camaraderie into enough to win it all.