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ACC Basketball: Analyzing each team’s returning impact players for 2023-24

By Cade Haak

GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 11: Head coach Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils hoist the trophy after a win against the Virginia Cavaliers in the ACC Basketball Tournament Championship game at Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Duke won 59-49. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 11: Head coach Jon Scheyer and the Duke Blue Devils hoist the trophy after a win against the Virginia Cavaliers in the ACC Basketball Tournament Championship game at Greensboro Coliseum on March 11, 2023 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Duke won 59-49. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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NCAA Basketball
ACC Basketball Syracuse Orange guard Judah Mintz Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports /

Syracuse

Adrian Autry, the longtime assistant of Coach Boeheim, is now poised to start off the 2023-2024 college basketball season in the head coach position for the very first time. With Coach Boeheim’s departure, the Orange were able to hang onto a large amount of talent that may have been leaving the team if change was not made. The Orange have 6 different scholarship players returning to play for them in the upcoming season, this group of players easily reaches its peak with Benny Williams and Judah Mintz.

For Benny Williams, his sophomore season showed growth in the right direction in every major statistical category. Of course, this is expected when you double your minutes per game as Williams did, but he was also able to drastically improve his scoring efficiency at all three levels while making the jump in playing time. Now, going into his third year with the program it’s expected that Williams will continue to get stronger during the off-season to allow him to better use his natural athleticism to help him both in scoring and on the glass.

Judah Mintz was a star in his first year suiting up for the orange, so much so that most people assumed he would be making his way to the NBA during this off-season. Instead, Mintz has opted to return for at least one season under Autry who is very lucky to have this returner. In just his freshman year, Mintz led the roster in assists and was second in scoring (4.6 apg and 16.3 ppg). He also showcased his ability to score from all three levels, but he shines when working close around the rim, although he has the mechanics to develop into a very solid three-point shooter over time.

Despite his talent on the offensive end of the floor, the young guard was also able to show his defensive prowess. He led the Orange in steals per game and proved to be a dangerous defender when paired with Jesse Edwards at the five-spot to protect the rim from almost everyone who tried to score on it. Now without leading scorer Joseph Girard on the offensive end or All-ACC defender Jesse Edwards on defense the pressure falls on the sophomore guard to become the team’s leader on both sides.