Despite losses, Syracuse basketball ‘getting a lot better,’ Jim Boeheim says

A lot of my fellow Syracuse basketball fans look at the team’s current record (5-4, 1-0) and have declared the season over.

Sure, the Orange already has suffered a quartet of setbacks in the non-conference slate. There are question marks about the team’s athleticism, its defense and, frankly, its offense after the two most recent games.

But let’s remember that the ‘Cuse roster ahead of the 2021-22 stanza was vastly remade. Six guys left the program, either via the transfer portal or to pursue professional aspirations.

Three players transferred in, and the Orange brought on board one freshman. That’s a lot of change. Additionally, Syracuse basketball in 2021-22 is tackling one of the toughest non-conference dockets in recent program memory.

So for me, while 5-4 isn’t great, obviously, I also don’t think the sky is falling for the ‘Cuse. And apparently, neither does head coach Jim Boeheim.

Syracuse basketball boss Jim Boeheim offers up some optimism on his team.

Before I get to Boeheim’s recent comments, let’s recap the 2021-22 term thus far. The Orange has beaten Lafayette, Drexel, Arizona State, a good Indiana squad and Florida State on the road, where the Seminoles rarely lose.

Conversely, the ‘Cuse fell to Colgate in a game where the Raiders made a million 3-pointers (sort of), along with defensive-minded VCU, top-20 Auburn and No. 6 Villanova, in a New York City-based battle when Syracuse basketball led at halftime.

Honestly, given its schedule to date, if the Orange beats Colgate and sits at 6-3, I feel a whole lot better. But regardless, what’s perhaps even more important than wins and losses at this juncture is how well the ‘Cuse is playing.

The offense needs to rediscover its mojo, and the team has to hold its own on the boards. But the defense, so maligned earlier in the season, is improving.

By extension, Boeheim said in his post-game press conference after Syracuse basketball lost by 14 points on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden that the Orange is improving – and it will continue to improve.

“I think we’re getting a lot better,” Boeheim said, noting that a few weeks ago, if Syracuse basketball had played Villanova then, the ‘Cuse would have been down about 15 points at the intermission, rather than up by three points.

He said the defense is improving. Graduate student forward Jimmy Boeheim is making a “huge impact,” the head coach said. Junior point guard Joe Girard III has “been really good,” and junior center Jesse Edwards is “getting there as well.”

But Jim Boeheim did stress that for the team to fare well on offense, senior shooting guard Buddy Boeheim and senior forward Cole Swider have to get going, and the head coach believes that they will.

With the holidays coming up, Syracuse basketball doesn’t have as many games as it has had during this recent stretch. That, hopefully, will provide the ‘Cuse with ample practice time to continue improving, Jim Boeheim said.