Syracuse Basketball: Jim Boeheim likes his team’s veteran 2020-21 roster

Syracuse basketball has begun its official pre-season practices, and head coach Jim Boeheim says his team is in a good spot.

Syracuse basketball possessed a relatively young and inexperienced roster a term ago, but now that line-up is a year older.

Head coach Jim Boeheim says this smaller learning curve is beneficial as his squad had the ability to commence with its official pre-season practices on Wednesday.

That’s important to note, because the novel coronavirus pandemic not only cut short the 2019-20 stanza, but it also “eliminated off-season workouts and wiped out almost the entire summer,” per a report from Mike Waters of Syracuse.com.

Starting on Wednesday, the Orange could have its traditional 20 hours per week of practice time. Prior to that, it was up to eight hours a week dating back to Sept. 21.

"“We’ve done basic practices in shortened versions to this point, so we’ve got a good knowledge of everything we’re doing,” Boeheim told Waters. “We’re a bit ahead practice-wise of where we would normally be. That’s a good thing.”"

Syracuse basketball head coach Jim Boeheim says his group is ready to hit the ground running with official pre-season practices.

Other than former Syracuse basketball star Elijah Hughes, the ‘Cuse returns much of its production from a campaign ago. Big men Bourama Sidibe and Marek Dolezaj are seniors, shooting guard Buddy Boeheim is a junior, and the freshmen, including starting point guard Joe Girard III and forward Quincy Guerrier, have a year of experience under their belts.

"“We’re much farther ahead of where we usually are anyway,” Boeheim said. “There are more veteran guys who have been through everything. Last year, Joe (Girard) and the other freshmen were having to learn everything.”"

Syracuse basketball, amid the pandemic, can compete in up to 27 contests in 2020-21, and the Orange is expected to have 20 Atlantic Coast Conference bouts on its schedule.

Boeheim told Waters that as far as the league battles are concerned, “We have the dates and we know the teams we’re playing. We just don’t know the order yet.”

The ‘Cuse, meanwhile, continues to iron out its non-conference docket, which hopefully will include a game with Georgetown, as well as the annual ACC-Big Ten Challenge.