Paul A. Esden Jr, Site Expert
Do you know what the new car smell is? Or heck even when you open your favorite snack and that aroma pours out and smacks your nostrils?
That’s what the 2019-20 Syracuse basketball squad feels like to me. There’s this fresh new vibe around the team and in their facilities.
Over the last few years, we’ve gotten used to the big names that brought a lot of special moments to Orange fans around the world. They will be missed, but it’s time for a new era of Syracuse basketball.
Four brand spanking new starters will grace the hardwood this season. With that will come youth, mistakes, and excitement.
The experts expect the Orange to be a bubble team based on their lack of experience, but I’ll give the Hall of Fame head coach the benefit of the doubt.
Jim Boeheim will coach up these youngsters and maximize his depth on the roster for a surprising 2019-20 run.
The x-factor to all of this potential is the point guard situation. Syracuse hasn’t had a true point guard in a long time. They’ve juggled players swapping positions and inconsistency.
Jalen Carey and Brycen Goodine, candidly, scare the crap out of me. Brycen is going to cough up turnovers because he’s young and Jalen has had a propensity for it throughout his collegiate run. If the Orange struggle up top it could have a ripple effect throughout the roster.
Although if they can figure out that hurdle, Syracuse can be exceptionally good this year.
Syracuse will go 22-9 on the season. 13-7 in the ACC (remember 20 games in conference this season). In terms of how far this Orange team will go, I’ll go bold: Syracuse will reach the Elite 8. I love the youth, the depth, and the variety of three-point shooters on the squad that’ll get better as the season goes on.