Syracuse Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Orange

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 23: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange speaks to his team during a timeout against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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SYRACUSE, NY – OCTOBER 25: Battle #25 of the Syracuse Orange drives to the basket. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /

Starting Lineup

Projected starters: Howard, Battle, Hughes, Brissett, Chukwu

One of the most experienced lineups in the country, Syracuse returns four of its five starters from last season, including three players among the national leaders in minutes played. With this said, these players are all extremely familiar taking the court together and are a major reason why Syracuse is ranked so highly heading into this year. In addition to boasting some strong individual scorers, this group together makes up Syracuse’s daunting zone defense.

Leading the way for this lineup will be potential All-American Tyus Battle. Easily the biggest offensive weapon for the Orange, Battle tested the NBA Draft waters this offseason before electing to return to school. As a sophomore last season, the versatile wing averaged 19.2 points in 39.0 minutes per game as the leading scorer on the roster. Additionally, he functions as the “shooting guard” within Syracuse’s rotation and, at 6-foot-6, his length is very difficult to deal with on both ends.

Speaking of positional length, Battle’s backcourt partner, point guard Frank Howard, also boasts plenty of size for his position at 6-foot-4. A strong playmaker and individual scorer, Howard is another vital part of Syracuse’s rotation. He averaged 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 38.4 minutes per game. A true all-around talent, Howard is often the engine that drives the Orange.

Rounding out the trio of tireless players, Oshae Brissett also averaged over 38 minutes per game last season. A dangerous all-around player at 6-foot-8, Brissett finished second on the team in scoring last year (14.9 points) and led the team in rebounding (8.8 boards). Another strong defender, Brissett could be the most important player for head coach Jim Boeheim.

At center, the Orange also return big man Paschal Chukwu. A shot-blocking sensation and major physical presence at 7-foot-2, Chukwu averaged 5.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game last season. Then, incoming transfer Elijah Hughes *could* be the final member of the starting lineup. He averaged 7.8 points per game as a freshman at East Carolina in 2016-17 and could play a major role for the Orange this season.

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