Syracuse opens its season on Friday in the Carrier Dome against Colgate at 7 p.m. The Orange is leaning on three transfers — Paschal Chukwu, Andrew White and John Gillon — to fill holes in the its lineup left by the departure of last year’s top three scorers.

Here’s how our beat writers think the season will play out.

Connor Grossman

Regular Season Record: 22-9
NCAA Tournament Finish: Sweet 16
MVP: Tyler Lydon
X-Factor: Andrew White

In supposedly the penultimate season of his career, Jim Boeheim faces the challenge of meshing his most diversified roster in years. Returning starters will share the floor with fifth-year transfers and first-year players. This melting pot of experience will not mix perfectly together, and Boeheim may not fully figure his team out until a few weeks of conference play. But there’s undeniable talent, from a budding star in Tyler Lydon to dynamic freshman Tyus Battle. Nebraska transfer Andrew White needs to help Lydon fuel the offense, and SU will survive long enough to tease a deep run into March.

Matt Schneidman

Regular Season Record: 24-7
NCAA Tournament: Sweet 16
MVP: Tyus Battle
X-Factor: Paschal Chukwu

On paper, Syracuse has a far better chance to reach the Final Four than it did last season. The Orange has more pieces to help it get there, and a 24-7 regular season will set SU up for a No. 3 or 4 seed in the Big Dance. Paschal Chukwu, all 7 feet, 2 inches of him, proves to be Syracuse’s X-factor by anchoring one of the country’s best defenses from the middle of the zone. This year, though, the Orange’s run ends in the Sweet 16 and team MVP Tyus Battle has a tough decision to stay in school or enter the NBA Draft.

Paul Schwedelson
Regular season record: 23-8
NCAA Tournament Finish: Sweet 16
MVP: Tyler Lydon
X-Factor: Tyus Battle

Jim Boeheim will have the chance this year to go four or even five deep on the bench, allowing Syracuse to be more flexible in its schemes. Expect to see more full-court pressing and more transition offense. The most indispensable player on the team will be Tyler Lydon, who can play either forward position and center based on the lineup surrounding him. Boeheim said he’s “probably” the only player he’s coached that has done that. Likely coming off the bench will be Tyus Battle, who has already shown in exhibitions he can provide a spark. How SU’s new players mesh together will determine this team’s fate.

Published on November 10, 2016 at 8:14 am