Syracuse Orange
Overall record: 23-14, 9-9 in the ACC
Head coach: Jim Boeheim
Tenure at Syracuse: 40th Season
Career coaching record: 888-347
Home court: Carrier Dome
Starters: G Frank Howard, G Andrew White III, F Tyler Roberson, F Tyler Lydon, C DaJuan Coleman
Bench: G John Gillon, G Tyus Battle, F Matthew Moyer, C Pashcal Chukwu
Overview: Despite making a Final Four run as a No. 10 seed in the NCAA tournament, Syracuse struggled for most of the regular season a year ago. After playing inconsistent basketball during head coach Jim Boeheim's suspension, the Orange found their footing a bit before losing five of their last six games prior to the NCAA tournament.
Syracuse will enter the year without guard Michael Gbinije and forward Malachi Richardson—the top two scorers for the Orange last season. To make things even more difficult, Syracuse will need to find a replacement for three-point specialist Trevor Cooney.
But the cupboard is far from bare for the Orange. The returning duo of Tyler Lydon and Tyler Roberson will provide Boeheim with two versatile forwards that can score in the post and out on the perimeter. Syracuse also landed Nebraska transfer Andrew White III, who finished sixth in the Big Ten with 16.6 points per game a year ago.
Guard Tyus Battle and forward Matthew Moyer headline the Orange's recruiting class and will have a chance to earn playing time from the start of the season with Syracuse's rotation in flux. Although Boeheim's 2-3 zone defense can be tough for newcomers to pick up, the Orange should have enough returning pieces to develop into one of the top teams in the ACC as the year progresses.
One thing that needs to go right: Roberson and Lydon take big steps and become reliable scoring options for a Syracuse team that uses its trademark zone defense to contain the ACC's best offenses.
One thing that could go wrong: The Orange's newcomers take a while to gel and Lydon suffers from a sophomore year slump as Syracuse finds itself buried in the middle of the conference standings.
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Digital Strategy Director for Vol. 115, Michael was previously Sports Editor for Vol. 114 and Assistant Blue Zone Editor for Vol. 113. Michael is a senior majoring in Statistical Science and is interested in data analytics and using data to make insights.