It's November, and that means it's time for the annual Syracuse hoops thread. The team tips off on November 6 against...checks schedule...the defending national champs. Ok, then. That will be fun. Last year's team returned all five starters from a team that went to the Sweet Sixteen the year before and then proceeded to play uninspired basketball before getting bounced in the first round of the tournament.
This year's team returns three-ish contributors from last year's squad -- Elijah Hughes, Buddy Boeheim, and Marek Dolezaj -- along with Bourama Sidibe, Jalen Carey, Robert Braswell, and Howard Washington. Add to that group four freshman -- Quincy Gurrier, Brycen Goodine, Joe Girard III, John Bol Ajak, and Jesse Edwards.
I can't tell what to make of this team. Based on what I've read and seen in highlights from their pre-season play, it looks like this team will look to play up-tempo, at least relative to the last few Syracuse teams, most of whom had to resort to rock fights in the mid-50s to win. That would be a welcome change of pace. Additionally, it looks like this team can shoot it a bit, with Hughes, Boehiem, and Girard all considered legit threats from 3 and Goodine, Braswell, Dolezaj, Guerrier, and Carey all willing to put up shots as well.
Here's my guess at a rotation:
Starters:
G - Jalen Carey
G - Buddy Boeheim
F - Elijah Hughes
F - Quincy Guerrier
C - Bourama Sidibe
Key Reserves:
G - Joe Girard III
G - Brycen Goodine
F - Marek Dolezaj
C - Jesse Edwards
Likely getting few minutes:
Washington. Ajak.
Wildcard:
Robert Braswell. Long like Hakim Warrick, seems to find the ball and make plays like Josh Pace or C.J. Fair. Plus he has a jump shot. He just seems like a Boeheim player. I think he could get sneaky minutes, especially as the season wears on.
Most important player: Carey. Point guard sets the pace, and I get the sense they want Carey to push it. I think if Carey has a big year, Syracuse will be tough. If Carey flops, maybe Goodine ends up the point guard, but that likely means bad things have happened.
This year's team returns three-ish contributors from last year's squad -- Elijah Hughes, Buddy Boeheim, and Marek Dolezaj -- along with Bourama Sidibe, Jalen Carey, Robert Braswell, and Howard Washington. Add to that group four freshman -- Quincy Gurrier, Brycen Goodine, Joe Girard III, John Bol Ajak, and Jesse Edwards.
I can't tell what to make of this team. Based on what I've read and seen in highlights from their pre-season play, it looks like this team will look to play up-tempo, at least relative to the last few Syracuse teams, most of whom had to resort to rock fights in the mid-50s to win. That would be a welcome change of pace. Additionally, it looks like this team can shoot it a bit, with Hughes, Boehiem, and Girard all considered legit threats from 3 and Goodine, Braswell, Dolezaj, Guerrier, and Carey all willing to put up shots as well.
Here's my guess at a rotation:
Starters:
G - Jalen Carey
G - Buddy Boeheim
F - Elijah Hughes
F - Quincy Guerrier
C - Bourama Sidibe
Key Reserves:
G - Joe Girard III
G - Brycen Goodine
F - Marek Dolezaj
C - Jesse Edwards
Likely getting few minutes:
Washington. Ajak.
Wildcard:
Robert Braswell. Long like Hakim Warrick, seems to find the ball and make plays like Josh Pace or C.J. Fair. Plus he has a jump shot. He just seems like a Boeheim player. I think he could get sneaky minutes, especially as the season wears on.
Most important player: Carey. Point guard sets the pace, and I get the sense they want Carey to push it. I think if Carey has a big year, Syracuse will be tough. If Carey flops, maybe Goodine ends up the point guard, but that likely means bad things have happened.