Syracuse Basketball Preview 2021

PreviewsNCAAMACC BasketballSyracuse Orange

Oct 30

Our Syracuse basketball preview 2021 - 22 projects that, as they have over the past three NCAA Tournaments, the Orange look like a solid shoe-in for another March Madness appearance. Last season, the Syracuse Orange (18-10 Overall, 9-7 ACC) finished eighth in the ACC and got all the way to the NCAA Sweet 16. This season, head coach Jim Boeheim (1,083-409 Syracuse & Overall/45 years) sees a slew of veterans return, four transfers come in, and one recruit arrive. Those transfers replace four out-bound Syracuse transfers and two other players.

Orange Frontcourt

Center Bourama Sidibe missed most of last season due to injury. He’s back and, if healthy, Sidibe could be a major asset. Three new players will occupy the front. Freshman Benny Williams will likely see some action while two transfers, Cole Swider (Villanova) and Jimmy Boeheim (Cornell) will shoulder the brunt of the work. Our Syracuse basketball preview 2021 - 22 notes that Swider hits threes at a 40.2 percent rate.

Syracuse Basketball Preview – Backcourt

You may recognize the two starting guards, as Buddy Boeheim and Joe Girard return for a third season. Although both struggled last season, partly due to stops-and-starts connected to COVID, they are premium players. In fact, the backcourt duo came on strong as the team made their late-season run, which got them to the NCAA Tournament. During that run, both habitually scored in double digits. Transfers Paddy Casey (University of Sciences) and Symir Torrence (Marquette) add depth.