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This season’s non-conference schedule was more competitive than in year’s past.
Before ACC play, Syracuse took on two other ranked opponents in Baylor and Villanova.¬†The Orange had the opportunity to face some tougher competition and that will only prepare it for the season ahead.¬†Even with that competition, Jim Boeheim’s bunch stuck together and finished on the most positive note.¬†
Now those easier games are over and the tough stuff is here. 
Syracuse opens ACC play against Miami¬†on Saturday¬†and there’s a lot to look forward to. There were a lot of unknowns heading into the season. How reliable would Trevor Cooney be? Could Tyler Ennis look like an experienced collegiate player instead of a freshman? What about Rakeem Christmas and DaJuan Coleman?
All of those questions have been answered.
Trevor Cooney has been great. Tyler Ennis has yet to have a “bad” game. He could be the key to going deep into the NCAA tournament. Christmas and Coleman have performed as expected. After an impressive come-from-behind win over Villanova, this team has proven that its no. 2 ranking isn’t fake and that it can be successful in ACC play.
Here are five things Syracuse needs to do, or continue to do, to dominate ACC play.
Trevor Cooney has to stay hot. He’s shooting 50 percent from three and has been nothing but essential to Syracuse’s success thus far. Cooney’s the man for the catch and shoot. It usually comes from Tyler Ennis and those two have been nothing but a dynamic duo. If Cooney cools down too much, it’ll be a very long rest of the season and possibly an early exit in not only the ACC tournament, but the big dance too.
Tyler Ennis needs to keep playing like an upperclassman. He has shown no signs of playing like a freshman. This kid knows exactly what he’s doing on the floor. It is evident that he has worked with his teammates during practice to make sure everyone understands the other player’s style. Ennis knows where each of his teammates likes the ball and he knows to look for Cooney on the wing or Fair mid-range.
Get the bigs going. It’s difficult to expect big offensive production from Baye Keita. He comes in for relief, but he needs to find a way to help the team more when Christmas and Coleman can’t find ways to get things going.
Be willing to play with the starting lineup. The combo of Christmas and Coleman isn’t great. Neither are performing up to expectations, despite Christmas’ 15 points against Eastern Michigan. Perhaps find a way to get Jerami Grant into the lineup, who takes advantage of his playing time‚Äîhe leads the team in rebounding. Right now, the team is 13-0, so no changes need to be made, yet. If a collapse occurs, maybe make a switch and start Grant, like Boeheim did when he started James Southerland last year.
Look for Michael Gbinije to do something. It’s understandable that this is his first year back, but more needs to be done. Syracuse cannot rely on Ennis to keep up with his 32 minutes per game. Gbinije has done little, and he needs to get more involved and be a more productive scorer.
It all starts¬†Saturday¬†when Miami comes to the Dome.¬†It’s going to get loud and it’s only January. Things are just starting to heat up.¬†
Posted by: Austin Pollack 
167 responses to “Fizz Five: Preparations for Syracuse Basketball’s ACC Schedule”
Cooney has been the focus of opposing defenses for the last few games now, I think it’s fair to say that he needs to find ways to get open. This season, he rarely has missed good looks at the basket.
Grant will be a big factor now that he will be starting, look for him to step up his game and be another option to take pressure off of Fair and Cooney (I can see the alleyoops from Ennis to Grant now.. 🙂 )
I still wouldnt expect much from the bigs, they are who they are and with Coleman out, they wont be getting much better. I believe we will see some increased playing time for guys like Roberson and maybe BJ Johnson. That should be entertaining.
Gbinije just needs to do something offensively. I think he has been playing well on defense and a serviceable rest for Ennis, but he needs to do SOMETHING on the offensive end so Ennis can play fresh.
That being said, this will be a special season. G’ORANGE.
Coleman has proven to be a complete and total bust.Even when relatively healthy he is nothing more than a uniform on the floor and a very expensive waste of scholarship money. Its amazing that Jimmy even starts him as a symbolic gesture for the local kids yet to emerge on the scene. He stays on the court for a few minutes and then sits for the rest of the game. The biggest loss for next season will be Keita The only big man who gives us any consistency from his ability. Christmas tries but his promise also has come up short big. Will McCullough be able to negate this next season or will he too be another flopped Boeheim big man?
Chris,
MC isn’t a big man. More of a SF in terms of size. He’s 6’9 in shoes so I see him being on the wing. Skill set is a lot different then keita, RAK and DC.
I wonder as well if can’t shouldn’t be starting? RAK looked to have a ton more confidence playing in the middle then the wing. I don’t think we loose much in terms of rebounding or shot blocking if grant starts at the wing as well. Grant is a great weak side shot blocker and can flat out sky for rebounds.
Silent G doesn’t seem to have any confidence in his jump shoot or in any shot right now. Most of the time he doesn’t even look at the hoop. Hope he can play a little freer moving forward.
All the basketball articles this season from the fizz this yr have had a part about our bigs needing to score more. I just don’t agree. Who do you guys suggest shouldn’t get his outta the big four of Ennis, Fair, Cooney and Grant? We have a four headed monster on the offensive end. Only way they should be scoring on lobs and offensive out backs. Maybe give them a touch a touch or two but nothing more. Besides not one player on our team can throw a proper entry pass anyways.
@Carlton
I agree about “Silent G” haha great nickname and also Grant starting but if Christmas could prove himself on the inside it would be comforting when we have bad shooting nights if we slightly dimished everyones touches of the big 4 it wouldn’t be a problem but I do think a lot of that should be natural and not forced through entry passes making him go 1v1
Jimmy might want to suggest Colman that he transfer to a lower division school and free up a scholly. He might be the biggest dud literally speaking to ever get a 5star ranking and come to Syracuse. If he isn’t hurting he just plain has nothing on the court . Not even a strong pair of hands to grab a board and hold on to it before its stripped away or knocked out of his hands. Who the hell was ranking this turkey before college? I presume his size and competition situation played into his favor beyond analysis by supposed competent individuals.
DA we need some fresh articles!!
Do Not Forget The Kids Of PSABUSEDU!! The NCAA did!!
T he Miami game showed the vulnerability of the articles commentary. Cooney went 2 for 12 in three point play and curiously Ennis had an off night. Coleman was getting another tattoo and was unavailable for the game. Christmas stepped up as did Grant. IMO a mixed bag and a lucky win.
^^ I love ur little Penn State gimmick it allows me to always remember why I hate them
@Chris
DC has been a bust so far. Unfortunately for him, Rak and Baye we dont have any big man coaches on the staff. ALL of them are former guards.
Say what you want about Bernie Fine, but he did a tremendous job at taking raw skill and size and developing them into legit big men. I think these players are good, but we have no one to help them succeed at the college level and beyond.
Syracuse is not lacking talented big men, but a talented big men coach
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