Sunday, November 18th, 2012

College Basketball Countdown: Syracuse Orange- #7

Published on November 6, 2012 by Scott Shirley   ·   No Comments

College basketball is right around the corner. Games will be starting before you know it, and practices are just right around the corner.

Here at Roundballchat I will release my top 100 teams for the 2012-13 college basketball season. I will start at 100 and count my way down. I will rank all the 75 programs in the six major conferences, as well as 25 mid majors in my top 100 countdown.

Along with my top 100 countdown I will also feature a ton of previews. Like the top players at each position, All Conference teams, top players by class, top games, previewing the early season tournaments and much more.

Who will put at number 1? Louisville or Indiana or maybe a surprise stay tuned to Roundballchat for the next month to find out.

# 7 Syracuse

Coach: Jim Boeheim (36 seasons at Syracuse 890-304)

2011-12: Record 34-3 overall, 17-1 in Big East (1st)

Starters Returning (2) Brandon Triche, Rakeem Christmas

Preseason Tournament: Gotham Classic

Top Non-Conference Games: vs. San Diego State, at Arkansas

Transfer In: Michael Gbinjie (Syracuse)

Sat Out: Trevor Cooney (redshirt)

Early Departure: Dion Waiters, Fab Melo

The Orange had a great regular season last year only losing 1 game in Big East play. However, they failed to make the Final Four somewhere they haven’t been since 2003. The Orange do lose 3 of their 4 scores off last year’s team but they is plenty of talent at Syracuse. Last year the Orange was the deepest team in the country, so their reverse from last year have plenty of experience. Boeheim also once again brings in 2 very talented recruits. The Orange are headed to the ACC next season.

Leading Syracuse in the backcourt will be Brandon Triche (9.4 ppg). Triche is a very versatile guard, so far in his career he has done it all to off guard to point guard. Triche made the 2nd most threes on the team last year and he can also attack the rim. Joining Triche in the backcourt will be Michael Carter-Williams (2.7 ppg). Although he is 6’5” he is a very good ballhandler and will likely run the point guard duties. He averaged 10 minutes per game last season and he still managed 2.1 assists pg. Williams is also a great athlete that can score in a multiple of ways. Depth could be a concern here mainly because of inexperience and lack of numbers. The top option off the bench will be redshirt freshman Trevor Cooney. His biggest strength is his shooting ability. The rest of the depth will come from a host of walk ons.

The Cuse will have a talented frontcourt with plenty of depth here unlikely the backcourt. Leading the way here will be small forward C.J. Fair (8.5 ppg). Fair was the 2nd leading rebounder for the Cuse last season. He is very athletic as he can play on the wing or inside. He does most of his scoring damage inside or with his midrange game. At power forward it will likely be Rakkem Christmas (2.8 ppg). He started a lot last season but did not see a lot of minutes that will change this season. He is a fine rebounder and shot blocker but he needs to work on his offensive game. At center will be five star freshman DaJuan Coleman. Coleman is a big body that is a back to the basket player that has great post moves, hands, and strength. The top option off the bench will be James Southerland (6.8 ppg). Southerland is a versatile player that can knock down the three. Also providing depth will be Baye Keita (2.3 ppg) and freshman Jerami Grant. Keita is another strong rebounder and shot blocker. While Grant is another versatile athletic forward.

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