Tyler Lydon Is Transforming The Landscape Of Syracuse Basketball

Tyler Lydon is a different type of talent than Syracuse is used to. With his many skills, he is changing the entire outlook of the program.

Even as a freshman, Lydon looks like a transcendent player for Syracuse basketball. Usually, Syracuse has long, athletic posts that live in the paint on both ends. While Lydon fits the physical profile, he possesses an elite face-up game that makes him a mismatch problem that Syracuse has lacked for a while.

Players like C.J. Fair and Jerami Grant served as combo forwards who created mismatches at the four, but Lydon can actually play a legitimate five-man for the Orange when needed. Because of this, and the array of talented guards that Syracuse possesses, opposing teams usually have no choice but to put a post player on him. As a big man, guarding Lydon is a nightmare. If you lag off, Lydon will shoot it, and he probably won’t miss (59 percent from three). If you close out too hard, he has the athleticism to attack the rim before help comes. If you double him, he’s a good enough passer to find the open teammate. This versatility makes him a tough matchup, especially for big men that are usually less mobile than Lydon.

While his natural position is at power forward, the 6-foot-8, 210 pound freshman has a typically long Syracuse wingspan that allows him to patrol the middle of the zone as well as anyone on the team. His 2.3 blocks per game leads the team so far, and that number should only improve as he learns to avoid helping up on penetrating guards. His agility allows him to rotate quickly and switch ends of the floor effortlessly. Realistically, he is capable of playing the wing on both ends. Lydon already has a handful of chase down blocks thanks to his athleticism and instincts. He has used similar instincts to pull down a team-high 8.7 rebounds a game as well.

Lydon is talented, but Syracuse has talented players every season. What makes Lydon so special is the dimension that he adds to the Orange. When’s the last time Syracuse had a post player who could shoot, rebound, pass and protect the rim? Sure, Jim Boeheim has featured players that can do a few of those things, but not all of them at the level that Lydon can. In the aftermath of the Syracuse scandal, having a young player like Lydon provides some hope that needed it.

One problem for Boeheim has been retaining the talent that he recruits. So far, there hasn’t been a lot of talk of Lydon as a huge NBA prospect. I don’t understand why, considering all of his ability. He might not be ideal height for a power forward, but he’s long and looks like he might still grow. In addition, he has the frame and broad shoulders that show potential for significant weight gain. When you combine that with his superb stretch four ability, his agility, his defensive potential, and his motor, it’s hard to imagine him staying off of draft boards for long.

Lydon is going to be a main piece in the success of a Syracuse team that has started off hot.