Syracuse basketball head coach Jim Boeheim said a few months ago that he thinks his roster in 2021-22 will excel on the offensive end of the floor. I believe him.
Like every other squad in Division I hoops, the Orange lost some key players this off-season, as the transfer portal exploded due to the NCAA enacting a one-time transfer exception policy in all collegiate sports.
Conversely, the ‘Cuse brought in three solid transfers, and it also has an incoming freshman who was a five-star prospect in high school. Plus, the existing roster, led by senior shooting guard Buddy Boeheim, includes a mix of veterans who have experience suiting up in March Madness.
According to ESPN, Syracuse basketball averaged 75.8 points per contest in 2020-21. In the upcoming term, I actually think that the Orange could best that number and tally around 80 points a game.
Let’s take a look at some predicted scoring averages for Syracuse basketball players.
Of that 80 points per encounter, I’m listing below what I think each ‘Cuse player will collect in 2021-22. As always, please feel free to let me know what I got right, and what I got wrong!
Buddy Boeheim, senior shooting guard
Boeheim averaged nearly 18 points a game a season ago, and he is garnering all kinds of pre-season accolades ahead of 2021-22. I actually think he might score a little less in the upcoming stanza, because the Orange has so many shooters, but Boeheim should also prove more efficient with his shooting percentages.
Projected points a game: 17
Joe Girard III, junior point guard
After a really good freshman year, Girard struggled a bit as a sophomore, and let’s remember that he had to deal with a Covid-19 infection that I’m sure affected his performance. I think that Girard will bounce back with an excellent junior stint.
Projected points a game: 13
Cole Swider, senior forward
The Villanova transfer shot really well from the perimeter in somewhat limited minutes for the Wildcats during 2020-21. I could absolutely envision him as the No. 3 scorer for Syracuse basketball this season.
Projected points a game: 11
Jimmy Boeheim, graduate student forward
Boeheim, who transferred in from Cornell, could get decent run at both forward and potentially center. I’m not sure whether he or Benny Williams will start at forward, likely alongside Swider. But Boeheim should be a key contributor.
Projected points a game: 8
Jesse Edwards, junior center
Edwards is a wildcard to me. He showed flashes of promise in 2020-21, but the team does have four centers, and his scoring average could depend in part on whether Bourama Sidibe is fully healthy, and who gets starter minutes at this position.
Projected points a game: 7.5
Benny Williams, freshman forward
Whether this five-star, top-25 prospect in the 2021 recruiting cycle starts or comes off the bench remains to be seen. But I am confident that Williams will have an impact in his first term on the Hill.
Projected points a game: 7
Bourama Sidibe, graduate student center
For Sidibe, who missed the bulk of last year due to injury, it all comes down to whether he is 100 percent healthy, which I of course hope that he is. I could foresee Sidibe splitting time with Edwards and being a solid contributor.
Projected points a game: 6.5
Symir Torrence, junior guard
Torrence, the Marquette transfer, didn’t play a whole lot for his prior team a stanza ago. He will be the primary back-up to Girard and Buddy Boeheim at the guard spots. Given that these three know each other back from their AAU days in high school, I think the chemistry between them will prove great.
Projected points a game: 6
Frank Anselem, sophomore center
I’ve always been high on Anselem, but I simply don’t expect him to get a lot of court time.
Projected points a game: 2
John Bol Ajak, redshirt sophomore center/power forward
What I said about Anselem also applies to Ajak.
Projected points a game: 1
Chaz Owens, sophomore guard/small forward
Owens likely has too many forwards ahead of him in the rotation to play much at all.
Projected points a game: 1