Syracuse Basketball: Orange starters improvement is night and day

Syracuse basketball starters, Buddy Boeheim and Marek Dolezaj have drastically improved from last season. We look at their stats and involvement this year.

Coming into the season, Syracuse basketball had many unanswered questions. A lot of these involved the departure of their stars, Tyus Battle and Oshae Brissett.

Considering those huge losses, it was uncertain who would step up in their absence. It was clear Elijah Hughes would carry a lion share of the offense. However, it was unexpected the leaps and bounds both Buddy Boeheim and Marek Dolezaj have taken in only a year.

When we start to talk about the end of year awards like the ACC most improved player, both Dolezaj and Boeheim need to be in the conversation. Since the Orange joined the ACC, Rakeem Christmas is the only Syracuse player to win the award. Now let’s take a look at Boeheim’s case for the award and how he’s improved from his freshman year.

Last season Buddy played only 17 minutes a game and was primarily a bench player. His abilities beyond the arc were apparent, but there were some visible gaps in his game. His first year, he did not need to lead the team and was essentially the fourth or fifth scoring option. But now this season, Boeheim has emerged as the second-leading scorer for the Orange alongside Elijah Hughes.

2018-19 stats per basketball-reference:

• 6.8 points a game
• 1 assist a game
• 35 percent from three
• 38 percent from the field

2019-20 stats:

• 16.3 points per game
• 2.3 assists
• 40 percent from three
• 41 percent from the field

Buddy’s stats have seen a drastic improvement this season. It is a positive sign to see both his three-point and field goal percentage numbers increasing. This is happening as his attempts per game rose by nearly eight shots.

Syracuse desperately needed someone to fill the scoring void this year, and Buddy has accomplished that task. While other parts of his game are slowly improving, it’s his scoring that made a rapid jump in his sophomore year.

Now let’s take a look at Marek Dolezaj who’s in his third year with the ‘Cuse.

The 6-foot-10 forward had a promising freshman campaign but took a step back last season. However, this year he has blossomed and doubled many of his statistics. Recently he is coming off a career-high 22 point performance against a top-10 ranked Duke team.

2018-19 stats per basketball-reference:

• 4.1 points per game
• 1.6 assists per game
• 3.5 rebounds per game
• 59 percent free-throw percentage

2019-20 stats:

• 10.6 points per game
• 2.9 assists per game
• 7 rebounds per game
• 71 percent from the free-throw line

There is no doubt that Dolezaj has improved his game from last season, and it has shown so far. His play has even impressed one of the most prestigious coaches in the country, Mike Krzyzewski, as seen on Syracuse.com.

"“Dolezaj has got to be the most improved player in the conference,” Krzyzewski said. “He is such a good player.”"

This praise is the truth, and Syracuse fans have seen Dolezaj develop over the past three years. Last season Dolezaj started in only six games, and so far this year, he has started in every contest.
Syracuse basketball has surprised many this season, and much of that is due to the improved play from Buddy Boeheim and Marek Dolezaj.