Syracuse Basketball: Key things to watch for in upcoming exhibition games

The Syracuse basketball 2021-22 campaign is nearly here. Yay! Before the Orange hosts Lafayette on Tuesday, Nov. 9, in the season opener, the ‘Cuse will play two exhibition games on the Hill.

Up first is a match-up with Pace University, which has campuses in New York City and in Westchester County, N.Y., on Wednesday, Oct. 27.

This contest is slated to begin at 7 pm, with the ACC Network Extra providing streaming coverage. The Orange’s second exhibition encounter, by the way, is on Monday, Nov. 1, versus Central New York neighbor Le Moyne.

As Syracuse basketball gets set to compete in these exhibition affairs and then the early part of the 2021-22 regular season, we’re taking a look at some pivotal themes to monitor for the Orange roster.

Syracuse basketball has numerous new faces this season.

Due to the NCAA’s new policy that allows student-athletes to transfer once and retain immediate eligibility, the transfer portal exploded in the off-season.

That led to a significant roster make-over for the ‘Cuse and many of its peers around the country. Several key players from a stanza ago are gone, while Syracuse basketball brought in three transfers.

It will prove interesting to see how these transfers, graduate student forward Jimmy Boeheim (Cornell), senior forward Cole Swider (Villanova) and junior guard Symir Torrence (Marquette), fare in the first couple of games as they settle into the Orange system.

The Orange only has one freshman within its line-up, 2021 five-star forward Benny Williams. There is a lot of excitement surrounding Williams. How will he adjust from prep-school ball to suiting up at the collegiate level?

Speaking of Williams, he is one of three primary forwards on the roster, along with Boeheim and Swider. Which two of these forwards will start in head coach Jim Boeheim’s rotation is something I’m intrigued by, although I think that all three of them will earn quality minutes.

With one new freshman and three transfers, plus multiple guys who left the program for one reason or another after this past season, how the current roster gels as a cohesive unit will be important and may take some time.

That being said, Jimmy Boeheim and younger brother Buddy Boeheim, a senior shooting guard, know each other well, obviously. And numerous of the current players suited up together for AAU ball in the past. Chemistry should be strong.

Jim Boeheim has said that this could end up as his best perimeter-shooting squad ever. That’s a bold statement. With sharp-shooters like Buddy Boeheim, junior point guard Joe Girard III, Swider, Williams and maybe even Jimmy Boeheim, this team should put up a ton of points.

While scoring likely won’t be an issue, how will the ‘Cuse perform in the 2-3 zone, and on the glass? Those are two vital components as to how successful Syracuse basketball can be in 2021-22.

I get the sense that this present Orange roster isn’t the most athletic of Jim Boeheim’s line-ups. The ‘Cuse will have to shore up its defense from a term ago, and hit the boards hard.

I’m hopeful that Girard will have a bounce-back season after somewhat struggling a year ago. A confident, assertive Girard can take this squad to greater heights.

Last but not least, I imagine that junior Jesse Edwards will get the starting nod at center, and I think that he’s going to shine in 2021-22.

But, in all fairness, he’s still a tad unproven. Graduate student center Bourama Sidibe has the most experience at this position, but how healthy will he be?

It sounds like sophomore center Frank Anselem has made solid improvements, so I’ll be interested to see how many minutes he receives, and which center is the primary back-up to Edwards.