The future looks bright for Syracuse basketball

Syracuse’s run to his first Final Four appearance since the dream 2003 season came up short on Saturday night as the Orangemen lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes at the East Regional by a score of 77-70. The loss ended what had been a phenomenal year on the court for Jim Boeheim’s team as they managed to weather a host of off-court problems to compile a 34-3 record, including a staggering 17-1. in conference play (setting a great East record for most conference wins in a season) and a 19-0 mark at the Carrier Dome. On the verge of losing many of the key contributors to this year’s team, the program is still well positioned to be a dominant force in college basketball during the 2012-2013 season.

Let’s cover the deceased first, starting with seniors Scoop Jardine and Kris Joseph. Having dressed in a red shirt in his second season, it seems that Scoop has been a part of the show forever. Over the years, he had his share of big shots and decisive plays, but also many maddening turnovers and questionable decisions. I haven’t seen Scoop’s name on many draft boards to date, so he could bring his game to a court in Europe near you in the future. The stats may not reflect it, but I still think Joseph’s best season was his sophomore year of 2009-2010. In his last two seasons he walked further away from the basket, while his zone coverage was often lax at best. It seemed like virtually every game he could have taken his boy to the basket or worked on the inside, but most of the time he chose to settle for the jump shot. He had a great run overall, but it still feels like he dropped a few plays in every game.

Unsurprisingly, sophomore Dion Waiters declared for the NBA draft on Monday with his classmate Fab Melo likely behind him. Waiters was one of the most explosive players in all of college basketball this season, often reminding me of a small version of D-Wade. He came off the bench this year despite being the team’s best player and professional prospect, contributing 12.6 points per game. Melo made great strides since his disappointing first year on campus, losing weight and becoming a middle force for the Orange. He blocked 88 shots and was named the Big East defensive player of the year before being declared academically ineligible ahead of the NCAA tournament. These two freshmen will be sorely missed, but the combination of talented returning players combined with another top-notch recruiting class should keep the show on track.

Next year’s starting guards will likely be senior (and three-year starter) Brandon Triche and sophomore Michael Carter-Williams. Triche will be relied upon to increase his scoring performance next season, and without Jardine and Waiters there to take a good chunk of his minutes, this shouldn’t be a problem. Carter-Williams didn’t run much this year, but with the body and athleticism of a shooting guard, he will definitely give the team a different look at the point for seasons to come. Redshirt freshmen Trevor Cooney will be backing you up from the bench well in advance. Cooney reportedly has an outside shot comparable to that of Cuse greats Andy Rautins and Jason Cipolla, and if he lives up to expectations, he will provide the automatic outside threat the team has lacked since Rautins’ departure.

The smooth and athletic CJ Fair will once again occupy one of the forward positions, hopefully adding a few more pounds. to his body as he regains the form he displayed earlier this season. Senior for James Southerland he played very well during the first two games of the NCAA tournament, and his outside shooting and size will once again make him an integral part of Boeheim’s rotation.

The power forward and center position is where Syracuse should be one of the deepest teams in the country next year. Rakeem Christmas will be a sophomore, and after his season-ending game, he is expected to be next year’s Fab Melo in terms of improving performance from one season to the next. Baye Keita is a dependable backup, giving the team length and another 7-foot disruptor to throw at opponents. Then there’s the new class of great talented freshmen. DaJuan Coleman (no relation to the original DC), the No. 3 ranked center in his class has committed to playing for Syracuse. Known for making room around the basket with his 275 pounds plus his physique, Coleman will be a punishing force on the inside from day one. Jerami Grant is a 6-8 four-star pick from Maryland known for his jumping ability and hitting around the rim, and there is still a chance for the Orange to hit 6-10 shots while blocking the extraordinary Nerlens Noel. Noel is one of the best recruits (the best recruit according to ESPNU) in the nation, and at this point he has narrowed his final decision to Syracuse, Kentucky or Georgetown.

From a record standpoint, it will be difficult for next year’s Syracuse team to match the bar set by this year’s team. There is no doubt that this was one of Jimmy B’s best teams, as in the face of scandal and lingering questions, everything seemed to fit the court for the Orange. However, despite losing several key players, the 2012-2013 Orangemen roster is shaping up to be even more talented than this season’s squad and could be the one that leads Boeheim back to the Final Four.