SYRACUSE 2008-2009 SNAPSHOT

June 16, 2008


Head Coach: Jim Boeheim
2007-2008 Record: 21-14 (9-9 Big East) NIT 3rd Quarterfinals

Returning Players:
Eric Devendorf, Junior* (Guard)
Andy Rautins, Junior* (Guard)
Arinze Onuaku, Junior (Center)
Paul Harris, Junior (Guard/Forward)
Johnny Flynn, Sophomore (Guard)
Rick Jackson, Sophomore (Center/Forward)
Antonio Jardine, Sophomore (Guard)
Sean Williams, Sophomore (Center)
Kristof Ongenaet, Senior (Big Forward)

*medical redshirts in 2007-2008

Incoming Players:
Mookie Jones (Guard/Forward)
Kris Joseph (Forward)
James Southerland (Forward)


Open Items/Issues:
Syracuse has been to back-to-back NIT's and have not won an NCAA Tournament game in four seasons, so the Orange will be looking to bounce back in a big way next season. Making their bounce back more difficult is the fact that last season's leading scorer, freshman Donte Greene, has entered the NBA Draft after averaging 17.7 points a game in his lone season as a collegian.

Jim Boehiem will be spending a lot of time away from Syracuse this summer as an assistant on Coach K's USA Olympic team that will compete in the Beijing Olympics. Next year's team will need Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins to return from knee injuries and add some firepower to the offense that will look to replace Greene.

Summary:
The lack of NCAA Tournament success the last four years is something unheard of in Jim Boeheim's tenure as the Orange head coach. The disturbing thing is, the Orange have had talent, actually plenty of talent, but they have not been able to avoid devastating losses, in and out of the Big East, especially the last two years.

Once again, the 2008-2009 Syracuse line-up has some of the top returning talent in the conference. Jonny Flynn is back to lead the attack at the point guard position after being named co-Big East Rookie of the Year with Pitt's DeJuan Blair. Flynn averaged 16 points and 5 assists a game last season and should quickly mature into one of the best point guards in the nation. He will be helped tremendously by a healthy Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins to provide some extra ball-handling and scoring threats from the perimeter. Rautins missed the entire season after injuring a knee competing for Team Canada in the summer of 2007. Devendorf only appeared in 10 games last season before blowing out his knee. His experience and 17 point per game average never really was replaced when he went down to the injury.

The return of both Devendorf and Rautins will allow Paul Harris to return to the forward position. Harris still struggles with turnovers and decision making, but the 6'3 Harris led the Orange in rebounding, as well as being among the conference leaders, with 8.2 a game. He also contributed 14.5 points a game on the season.

The front court was think last season and remains a question-mark this season with Arinze Onuaku and Kristof Ongenaet returning and Rick Jackson and Sean Williams the lone returning players off the bench. Onuaku turned into a solid Big East post player last season and is not the typical Orange post player, more of a physical load in the middle, Onuaku is effecient at taking up space and coverting opportunities in the half court game. Ongenaet played important minutes after injuries and defections forced him into the line-up. He definitely had his moments and can be a solid complimentary player, but he does create quite a hold at an important position for the Orange.

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Adding depth is sophomore guard Antonio Jardine and incoming freshmen Mookie Jones, Kris Joseph and James Southerland. Jones is the most hyped of the incoming players, but enters in the winf mix that will likely be handled most by Devendorf and Harris with Rautins providing a perimeter shooting threat behind them. Joseph can help out a little more at the power forward position, so he could find the most opportunity for early time, unless SU goes really small, moving Paul Harris to a power forward position. Southerland looks to be on track to be in uniform next year (there has been some question as to whether he would be an '09 or '10 addition) and is a prospect with a nice shooting touch and size to be very effective in Boehiem's system in the future.

There really is no clear answer for the Orange heading into next season. Once again, they have some very impressive talent. The lack of depth in the front court, especially at power forward is more than just a little concerning, but their talent at every other position has the potential to be above average in the Big East. They can not afford to lose at home to teams like Drexel, Wichita State, Rhode Island, UMass, etc in the pre-conference schedule and hope to get it all back in the Big East. Too many teams are more consistent than the Orange and, despite some great moments the past two seasons, there just weren't enough of them to get them into the NCAA Tournament. With Greene this team had top four talent in the Big East, but wondering if the results would equal that. Without Greene, the talent is probably a few notches less, but they could still achieve a similar level of success. Syracuse fans have heard more than enough of the bubble the last few years to last them an eternity, it looks like they are likely to be hearing more about it this season, too. Of course, their talent could overcome and but the bubble well back into the rearview mirror.