The lineup possibilities are endless for the Syracuse basketball squad in 2020-21. We evaluated the top options for head coach Jim Boeheim.
The 2019-20 Syracuse basketball season could be seen as one, big, inconsistent mess. Other than Elijah Hughes, the talented, yet young, Orange roster had trouble stringing together multiple good games in a row.
While Joe Girard III and Buddy Boeheim certainly had their moments, neither was really able to solidify themselves as a reliable second option. This is not a knock on their play, but more what comes with having a backcourt.
Similarly, the Orange frontcourt had their troubles. Bourama Sidibe and Marek Dolezaj seemed to trade off good games with each other, rarely both dominating in the same contest. Meanwhile, Quincy Guerrier had flashes where he looked like Oshae Brissett 2.0, and other moments that were far from that.
The one positive from this seemingly jumbled mess is the fact that the Orange rarely saw changes in lineups, and will return four of the five starters from last season.
The possibility of Hughes returning still lingers as well, but with some NBA Draft experts eyeing him as a potential late first-round pick, the Orange need to keep their eyes adjusted on life without their 2019-20 leading scorer.
If inconsistency surrounded the Syracuse basketball program last season, we may need a whole new word for what the 2020 season may start out like.
While head coach Jim Boeheim usually has a solidified starting five no more than 10 games into the season, it’s clear that the number of potential lineups heading into next season are abundant.
From guard-heavy lineups to defensively oriented ones, and the possibility of incoming transfer, Alan Griffin, being allowed to play without sitting a year, the Syracuse coaching staff has their hands full with potential starting fives.
Of course, there could be worse problems for a college basketball coach. Here is our full breakdown of all the potential lineups the Orange could rule out next season.