Syracuse Basketball: Why might the Orange be dangerous in 2018-19?
Freshmen contributions
To round out the reasons why Syracuse could be in for a huge season, it would be a mistake to ignore the potential contributions of the incoming freshman class. Even though the class is not ranked extremely high (43rd nationally), each player could potentially bring something different to the table right away for the team. And while it will obviously be difficult for these youngsters to crack into the rotation due to the amount of returning talent, let’s not count them out.
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For starters, Buddy Boeheim (No. 347 recruit) is more than just the coach’s son. A 6-foot-5 wing who can seriously shoot from beyond the arc, he may be able to find consistent playing time due to this shooting ability. Over the course of last season, the Orange shot just 31.8% from beyond the arc (328th nationally). In order for Syracuse to reach its full potential this season, the team will need to shoot better from three and Boeheim could be the answer.
Next, combo guard Jalen Carey (No. 61 recruit) could be a valuable player in the backcourt. He has prototypical guard size for the college level at 6-foot-3 and should be able to provide valuable reserve minutes this year. Quite simply, Syracuse’s main trio of last season will need to rest more during this upcoming season and immediate contributions from Carey could make this easier.
Lastly, Robert Braswell (No. 152 recruit) is a 6-foot-9 power forward who may compete for minutes in the frontcourt due to his size at the position.
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If all goes according to plan this season, Syracuse basketball could be in for a huge year. Head coach Jim Boeheim has put together an amazing roster with plenty of scorers and elite-level defenders. The Orange may struggle to compete for an ACC title but should be an NCAA Tournament team with hopes of a deep run.