Syracuse Basketball: Why might the Orange be dangerous in 2018-19?

Elite zone defense

While the majority of teams in the nation deploy a man-to-man defense night after night, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim has put together a remarkable string of success due to his incredible zone defense. Coach Boeheim’s entire system revolves his zone defense and this is evident in the way that he recruits for the future of the program. But, as we head into this season, it is reasonable to think that this might be his best iteration of the 2-3 zone yet due to the length and experience of the roster.

First, chemistry between teammates is incredibly important in creating a strong defensive unit and the Orange should have plenty. As already mentioned, Syracuse returns six major contributors from last season, including the main trio of Brissett/Battle/Howard. These three players were practically inseparable on the court last season and were integral parts of the team’s zone defense due to the size and length at guard and on the perimeter.

Additionally, Paschal Chukwu should be a tremendous anchor inside for the team. A 7-foot-2 shot-blocking monster, Chukwu swatted 2.5 shots per game a year ago. He also does a nice job playing the passing lanes and using his length to force even more turnovers. Even though he only averaged 5.4 points per game last season, he started all 37 games and is an integral member of the rotation due to his superb defensive abilities.