It was another typically successful season at Syracuse last year as Jim
Boeheim has built one of the nation’s elite programs. The Orange
finished the season 27-8 overall and 12-6 in the ridiculously deep Big East (tie
for third). They were knocked out in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament by
Marquette. Can Boeheim lead SU to its second national title? The Orange will be
a Top 5 team in every preseason poll and are 12/1 to win their first national
championship since Carmelo Anthony starred as a freshman in
2002-03. Syracuse will enter this season with very high expectations. In addition to
Boeheim will bring back starters Scoop Jardine, Kris Joseph (a
preseason Big East Player of the Year contender), Brandon Triche
and Fab Melo, a former McDonald’s All-American who
should be much better as a sophomore than he was in an unsteady freshman season.
The lone loss was rebounder and anchor Rick Jackson. The bench has experience with the likes of Dion Waiters, C.J. Fair,
James Southerland, Baye Moussa Keita and Mookie Jones.
The freshman class includes two McDonald’s All-Americans in shooting guard
Michael Carter-Williams and center Rakeem
Christmas, plus sharpshooter Trevor Cooney. The Orange
need to improve their outside shooting this year as last year they lacked a
consistent 3-point threat, and as a result fell nearly 100 spots (16th to 114th)
in national 3-point percentage from 2009-10 to 2010-11. The drop in perimeter
scoring allowed defenses to sag on interior threats like Jackson and focus on
keeping Joseph and Jardine from penetrating. The Orange open the new season Saturday against Fordham. The stars of tomorrow PLAY TODAY. Bet on college basketball at Bodog.
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