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2008 Syracuse Basketball Predictions & Season Preview

Written October 21, 2008 by Jack Jones

The Syracuse basketball program is used to a little more than back-to-back NIT appearances, but head coach Jim Boeheim is confident that his team will get back to the NCAA tournament in 2008-09. Donte Greene came in with some big expectations, but he didn’t really deliver in the same way that Carmelo Anthony did back in 2003. Greene was a one-and-done kind of player, but this team gets back Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins who missed out on most of last year due to injuries. That has us convinced that the team will get back on track, and the college basketball odds makers appear to agree with us. BetUS has the Orange listed at 7.5-to-1 to win the Big East conference.

Down low the team has Arinze Onuaku, who broke through as a sophomore for 12.7 points and 8.1 rebounds on 63% shooting. The other two spots on the inside are manned by some all-out hustlers, which fits Boehiem’s 2-3 zone nicely. Kristof Ongenaet goes all-out on defense and gets on the floor chasing loose balls. Paul Harris will play small forward even though he’s only 6′4″, but he still managed 8.2 rebounds per game a season ago. Rick Jackson, Kris Joseph, and Mookie Jones will all be available to spell the starters or for different looks.

Even though Greene got all of the attention last year, it was point guard Jonny Flynn that was the Big East Rookie of the Year. He played nearly every minute while averaging 15.7 points and 5.3 assists per game. He shouldn’t have to put so much wear and tear on his legs with the return of Devendorf to the backcourt. He had 17 points per game through the first ten games before going down with a knee injury. Rautins is also back after getting a medical redshirt, he was a 41% shooter from behind the arc two years ago. Scoop Jardine will fill in behind these three players, but with them logging so many minutes he might not see too much floor time.

Final Analysis

This Orange team is going to be good and they are flying under the radar. You knew that was going to happen though when they are in the same conference as Connecticut, Louisville, and Notre Dame. With so much talent coming back from their injuries last year, Onaku blossoming into a star, and the return of Flynn I can see this team upsetting some of the big boys and making a run. There is value here with BetUS having Syracuse at 40-to-1 to win the national title.

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