Syracuse Hoops: Expect More?

With the new college basketball season there is a new set of players, and new chemistry (or lack thereof), and new expectations. For Syracuse they lost three starters last year, their backbone some would say, in Wes Johnson, Andy Rautins and Arinze Onuaku. So despite the players they do have returning, and the incoming talent that gave the Orange a top-5 recruiting class, lower expectations are understandable. But you have to look at the team with two exhibitions (for what they are worth), and two non-conference games and say they might be a lot better than what you would expect.

They have two winners of last years sixth man of the year award in the Big East now in the starting lineup with Kris Joseph (also a Sporting News Preseason All-American), and Scoop Jardine (who was on the US men's select team who played against the USA team that won gold this summer). They have Brandon Triche who was on the Big East Freshman first-team and a preseason Wooden Award watch list player, and Rick Jackson coming back who through two games is averaging a double-double.

But those are not the parts of the machine you look at and really deem their potential, but rather with the talented freshman class. Whether it is the number one center of the class, seven footer Fab Melo, or top five guard Dion Waiters, who can score with anyone. And can also dunk if needed:

Then again, those are the two you expect to see play well. No, Syracuse and their season might be made by their other freshman center Baye Moussa Keita, and forward C.J. Fair. In their last game against Canisius Keita had 15 rebounds to go along with his six points. Fair in his two regular season games is averaging 8.5 points a game while shooting 75% from the field, and also bringing down seven boards playing the athletic wing spot in the vaunted 2-3 zone.

The final touches of this team, and important ones at that are the bench "veterans". Only in the sense of the word that they are not freshman, James Southerland and Mookie Jones are going to be relyed on for their shooting. They are shooters, and for Syracuse to be successful, and make a push deep into the NCAA one, if not both, of these guys will have to step up and take shots and make shots. And everyone who knows Syracuse knows Mookie is ready and willing to at least step up and take the shot.

With the pieces at his hand Jim Boeheim should be able to win a lot of games this year, and there is no telling how far his coaching and this year's group of talent can go once all roles are laid out and hopefully achieved.