Syracuse: State Of The Orange Address

My fellow Syracuse fans, it is time to assess the team and decide if its approval rate will bring us victories in March or heartache and failure. Sure, feelings are low right now after a disgusting display against our hated rival UConn Huskies on Wednesday night, but we must survive and push on.

Let’s start our assessment of the team with heralded point guard Michael Carter-Williams, who is like a roller coaster of emotions for fans. Carter-Williams shows flashes of brilliance scoring the ball while getting others involved.  He is averaging over eight assists per contest, but with that comes almost four turnovers.  The lanky guard is shooting 37.5 percent from the field and has mixed solid scoring efforts, with lackluster ones as well.

Brandon Triche and CJ Fair are the team veterans who have been the backbone.  Fair is the iron man who played five straight games without a resting ending that stretch with a one minute break against St. John’s.  He is shooting almost 50% from the field and is the team’s leading rebounder. Without Fair, the rebounding deficits would be a lot larger. Triche is the team’s leading scorer, although he is ice cold from long range the past few games.  He averages almost three turnovers per game, but is so important to the team’s success.

The stock could not be higher right now for Jerami Grant, who benefited greatly from the absence of James Southerland. Grant’s athleticism has been on display on both sides of the ball and has been greatly needed. He is shooting almost 50% from the field as well, and will be crucial in March. Southerland is the team’s sharpshooter, and the one that defenses need to account for all over the court.

Now we move to the centers which have caused much pain and agony. Between Baye Keita, DaJuan Coleman and Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse gets 14.6 PPG and 13.4 RPG.  The three-headed monster has only two working ones right now until Coleman heals up from his injury.

These three go along with Trevor Cooney as the biggest disappointments. Cooney is shooting a woeful 28% from long range and has not played long stretches.

Overall, the team has the makings of a final four contender when all is right. They also have the makings of a mid-major fodder and a quick exit. They will go as far as Fair, Triche and Carter-Williams take them.