Syracuse Basketball: Projected starting rotation for the 2022-23 season

Symir Torrence

Other than one of the forward spots, who will start at point guard for the Orange in 2022-23 is going to prove really fascinating to me. I say this, because I get the feeling that perhaps Girard is going to start at shooting guard, where I think he will shine as a senior.

With Girard potentially off the ball, I believe that the starting point guard will come down to Torrence and Mintz, who was tremendous during his senior season for the Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va.

We recently had an article detailing some comments from Mintz, and it seems pretty clear that Syracuse basketball coaches are anticipating that he will play significant minutes as a freshman.

That being said, I have read observations from national recruiting analysts who speak to Mintz maybe being a bit more comfortable at shooting guard, rather than point guard, at least for now.

Plus, while Mintz has faced off against top-flight competition in his tenure at the Oak Hill Academy as well as on the grassroots basketball circuit, he still is only going to be a freshman in 2022-23.

I don’t think his adjustment to major Division I collegiate hoops will be as big as for some of the other 2022 commits that the ‘Cuse has, but I’m going to go with Torrence here as the starting point guard.

A Central New York native, Torrence transferred to the Hill from Marquette ahead of the 2021-22 campaign. For the entire term, according to ESPN statistics, he averaged 13.1 minutes, 2.6 points, 2.9 assists and 1.6 rebounds a game, while connecting on 41.6 percent from the field, 50.0 percent from the free-throw line and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Without question, Mintz, Girard and others on the roster are better shooters than Torrence, but his athleticism, quickness, floor vision, ability to facilitate for others, and prowess for getting into the lane are strong attributes that he boasts.

In March, when Syracuse basketball torched Florida State and then fought tough against Duke in the 2022 ACC Tournament, Torrence produced a combined 20 assists against just three turnovers.

I know that Boeheim isn’t afraid to start freshmen when he thinks they’re ready, but he’s also loyal to veterans. Look for the senior duo of Torrence and Girard to start, with Mintz playing a lot as the primary back-up at both positions.

To that end, I don’t envision Copeland, who is out of the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., seeing a lot of court time. And his IMG Academy teammate, Taylor, I think will suit up more at small forward than at shooting guard, given Mintz’s presence on the roster.