Syracuse basketball has struggled with production at the center spot in recent campaigns, but that could change in the upcoming stanza.
In the 2014-15 term for Syracuse basketball, big man Rakeem Christmas put forth a monster performance for the Orange, averaging 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, while garnering third-team All-American honors from the Associated Press.
Since that showing by power forward/center Christmas, it’s not an overstatement to say that for the ‘Cuse, at the center position in particular, the team hasn’t gotten a tremendous amount of production.
That’s primarily on the offensive side of the court, although the Syracuse basketball centers had their issues in the 2-3 zone as well a season ago.
Without question, Orange fans have grown a tad frustrated with the sub-par play of the squad’s centers in recent years. However, perhaps this disappointing trend will dissipate as we all look ahead to the 2020-21 term, which is scheduled to commence in the near future even as ‘Cuse team leaders attempt to sort out the Syracuse basketball schedule.
Head coach Jim Boeheim noted not too long ago that seniors Marek Dolezaj, a power forward/center, and Bourama Sidibe, a center, have both gotten stronger. That’s an encouraging sign, as each player did have a tendency to get pushed around in the paint some in the past, especially in Atlantic Coast Conference competition.
Allen Griffin, an Orange assistant coach who primarily works with the squad’s centers, is echoing Boeheim’s comments, saying to Donna Ditota of Syracuse.com in an article that, “Overall as a unit, we’re much improved with the additions and with all the guys getting older. We’re expecting some big stuff.”
The big men on the ‘Cuse 2020-21 roster include Dolezaj and Sidibe, who should start at power forward and center, respectively. Then there are sophomore Jesse Edwards, redshirt freshman John Bol Ajak and freshman Frank Anselem.
Syracuse basketball could definitely see some more consistent play at the center role in the 2020-21 campaign.
Griffin provided some thoughts to Ditota on each of the centers, save for Dolezaj. We’ve included portions of Griffin’s assessments below.
Sidibe: “Bourama’s gotten a lot stronger, a lot more confident. Obviously, he still needs to work on finishing around the basket. That’s one thing we’ve been really concentrating on – keep getting better around the basket.”
Edwards: “Jesse is whipping himself back into shape. He’s gained some pounds. The most important part is he’s starting to get himself into shape.”
Ajak: “It’s an adjustment period. With him not playing last year, he’s just trying to catch up to Bourama and Jesse in terms of experience. He’s been bouncing between the four and the five and he’s been doing pretty good.”
Anselem: “We haven’t seen this type of athleticism at this position in a long time in terms of the way he can move and the way he can jump. … He’s gotta work on the motor part, of just playing hard on every possession. He can block shots. Just his quick twitch.”