When Syracuse opened its season on Sunday against Fairleigh Dickinson, Carmen Tyson-Thomas resumed her role as the team’s sparkplug.

Tyson-Thomas, a senior guard who started 29 games last season, began her career as a contributor off the bench. After returning to that role for seven of the team’s final 11 games in 2011-12, Tyson-Thomas found herself in a similar position in Syracuse’s 94-47 win over FDU. She contributed 10 points and eight rebounds off the bench in the win.

Whether she starts or comes off the bench, she said she simply wants to do what’s best for the team.

“I feel like we’re becoming more of a unit,” Tyson-Thomas said. “And that’s what we need to do to win games.”

Tyson-Thomas will look to continue her strong start to the season when the Orange travels to play Maine on Tuesday at 7 p.m. On a team with three promising freshmen — Cornelia Fondren, Brianna Butler and Brittney Sykes — starting for SU on Sunday, veterans like Tyson-Thomas and junior guard Rachel Coffey sat to start the game.

Tyson-Thomas will serve as a model for the younger players as she steps into a leadership position this season.

“It’s much different,” Tyson-Thomas said. “Stepping out of being under leadership to becoming a senior and being a leader.”

Tyson-Thomas finds that being a good leader can stem from the ability to show younger players what she does on a daily basis to improve as a player. By practicing what she preaches regarding intensity and focus, she hopes to foster discipline throughout the team.

“I just tell them the same things that I do,” Tyson-Thomas said. “Rebound, go hard, make sure you’re focusing 100 percent in practice. Make sure you’re always on your toes and always listening to the coach.”

Still, while the freshmen don’t have as much in-game Division I-level experience as their veteran peers, they don’t necessarily feel like they have to take a complete backseat.

Freshman forward Pachis Robert feels her class can make intangible contributions within the team dynamic despite the learning curve.

“It’s tough because you don’t know as much as everybody else,” Roberts said. “So you’re still trying to learn and see how everybody does things. But if you try your hardest, it shouldn’t be that hard.”

At Maine on Tuesday, the freshmen will have their first challenge of playing in a road environment.

The game will feature plenty of first-year players on the court, with the Black Bears having nine freshmen on the 14-player roster. In a 79-76 overtime loss to Wofford last Saturday, Maine started three freshmen, just as Syracuse did against FDU.

“Maine actually has a totally different team,” Hillsman said. “It’s a little bit harder to get a read on them right now. But we know they’re going to come out and play very hard, and we’re going to have to execute to win.”

Syracuse will be on the road for the next three weeks, as the Orange won’t play another game in the Carrier Dome until Dec. 4.

Although Hillsman said he isn’t quite sure how his team will handle the stretch, he’s ready for the challenge.

“I don’t know,” Hillsman said. “We’re going to see soon. Obviously the road is the road; it kind of puts you in a different routine and in a different mode.”

With the road trip comes the chance for the veterans to put their leadership ability to the test, seeing how they keep their teammates on track through potential distractions.

As one of five seniors on the roster, Tyson-Thomas finds it hard to believe she’s now one of the team’s longest-tenured players. Still, she recognizes it is crucial for her to fill that veteran role.

“It’s something that you’ve got to look at, and you’re just like, ‘Now you’re in the role,’” Tyson-Thomas said. “I didn’t expect for it to come so soon. I’m enjoying being a senior, but then again I’m not; it’s a bittersweet thing.

“But I’m stepping into my role very well, I think.”

Published on November 12, 2012 at 11:55 pm

Contact Kevin: kmprisei@syr.edu