Syracuse Basketball: Who can be that Marek Dolezaj x-factor for Orange?

This Syracuse basketball season feels to me like there is still a lot of potential left for success. At moments, there are signs of excitement and at other moments frustration, such as falling to long-time rival Georgetown in a close game on Saturday.

There are likely various factors for the frustrating times involved including playing a tougher schedule, shooters finding cold streaks and also sometimes that’s sports whether we like it or not.

But there’s one thing that’s missing we’ve had lately, and that is the x-factor guy for Syracuse basketball.

One of the most beloved players in Syracuse basketball history is Slovakia’s own Marek Dolezaj. Marek’s known for his love of local pizza but for fans who watched him, it was also that ability to make a play where you just watched in awe and excitement.

Whether it was standing in there to take the charge from former Duke star Zion Williamson, who easily outweighed him, fighting for loose balls/rebounds and even breaking teeth, you believed Marek would find a way to make a play you’d remember.

With Marek gone, will someone else step up and be that often underrated player who keeps you in games with a crucial play? Is there someone on this roster who can match his level of skill, aggression and determination to make the play on BOTH sides of the ball?

Who is the x-factor for Syracuse basketball this season?

I’m not coaching these guys so I don’t know them as well as they do nor do I know how they’re being coached. I’m merely a fan who loved Marek and his game and think it could help this team. I do see three possible guys I think are capable of it.

First up, junior center Jesse Edwards. Jesse has shown some great improvement this season and at times I feel like I see a little bit of that hunger in his eyes to want the ball and make plays inside along with a dose of blocked shots. He could be that force inside on defense that takes that charge and maybe even strips the ball from defenders trying to penetrate inside or at least alter their shot.

Up next, what about senior forward Cole Swider? Cole has definitely shown he has the ability to shoot. He’s also shown he can get double-digit rebounds. According to Cuse.com, he’s had double-doubles against Arizona State (11 rebounds, 19 points) as well as against Florida State (10 rebounds, 16 points) and 12 rebounds against his former team Villanova recently.

And last but not least, maybe someone like junior guard Symir Torrence? Symir is a local guy who transferred to Syracuse basketball after playing at Marquette out of high school. He’s a guy looking for a niche to get him more time on the court and playing aggressively to create turnovers and make the most of his playing time could not only help that but also give the local fans more reason to support one of our own. He’s also got that ability to dish it to an open man that Marek had also if teams tried to cover him.

So there are my top three x-factor options, but maybe it’ll be someone else. Or maybe it’ll be multiple players bringing a little of each to their role. I just wonder as the season progresses and the post-season tournaments are near, who might steal the show with their play.

Senior shooting guard Buddy Boeheim, junior point guard Joe Girard III, graduate student forward Jimmy Boeheim and possibly Cole will be the front runners to hit the big shot in a close game (likely depending on the hot hand), but who will go in to get that awkward rebound and pass to set up that opportunity for them or put back that missed shot to tie up the game? Who will be the next breakout star and steal the hearts of Orange fans with those plays that make us want to buy them a pizza?