The Can Ball Report has compiled the best Canadian NC-Double-Eh ballers of the last ten years and today we start off the list with non other than Andy Rautins. Check out his profile and why we selected him right for our team here ...
Andy Rautins, Guard – Syracuse (2005-2010)
Career Stats: 24.4 mpg, 8.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.4 spg, 39.6 FG%, 76.2 FT%, 37.4 3PT FG%, 127 games
I know, I know. You are all probably scratching your heads at this one and there will probably be a whole lot of backlash for this pick but oh well. Andy Rautins is on this list for two reasons: first, well it’s my list and second, he proved that despite having a whole lot of more talented players around him, his contribution to a top team playing top competition every game was the most important factor in keeping his squad at that high level, period. He has always played second fiddle to the players around him in terms of points or media shine but he was the glue guy.
Rautins would star at Jamesville-DeWitt in New York where he won a state championship in 2004 and was named First Team All State and All-CNY as a senior. He would chose to go to Syracuse where his dad Leo was one of the best players to suit up for the Orange. As a freshman, he would ride the bench playing sporadically on a loaded Orange team but showed flashes of his shooting ability. In his sophomore season, Rautins would begin to show his promise. Having the rep as a shooter with deep range, he would begin the season as instant offence off the bench but would later earn a starting spot. He would average a modest 7.2 points, 2 boards, 1.5 assists and 1.3 steals and would look to pick up on his successes his junior season but that didn’t happen. Rautins would end up tearing his ACL while in action with the Canadian National Team and would redshirt his third year with the Orange. He came back after that redshirt year a new player with a better all around game.
His final two seasons in the Orange and white were his best. As junior on a team that featured NBA first rounder Jonny Flynn, Eric Devendorf and Paul Harris, Rautins was the deep threat and secondary play maker. He averaged 10.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 36.6% from the trey making 102 of his attempts, incidentally he only made 126 field goal attempts for the season. This past season, Rautins again played in the shadow of a great SU player in Wesley Johnson but continued in his role as team leader and play maker. He was would average 12 .1 points for the year 3.4 boards, 1.9 steals and a team leading 4.9 assists to go with his 40.7% from behind the three. He would help lead the Orange to the NCAA Tournament and along the way he garnered an All Big East Second Team selection, a Sporting News Fifth Team All America selection and an AP Honorable Mention nod as well. Rautins was one of only three Big East players not on the conference first team to get an All American honor. That should go a long way to explaining why his name is on this list. He may not be Jordan but he plays the Pippen role to a tee and Scottie Big Nose was named to the NBA’s Top 50 list if you recall. He will look to begin his professional career this fall after he spends his summer with the Canadian National Team.
Post Season Honors
All Big East Second Team 2009-10
Honorable Mention All America 2009-10
Sporting News Fifth Team All America 2009-10
Syracuse Records
Most threes in game (9)
Tied most 3pt attempts in a game (16)
3rd most three attempts season (279)
2nd career threes (282)