Syracuse basketball hasn’t played in March Madness since 2021, but the Orange have a talented enough roster to break the curse.
The tradition continues! CBB Review is again ranking the top 100 teams heading into the new college basketball season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Syracuse basketball.
The Orange finally got back to a 20-win season under first-year head coach Adrain Autry, something they hadn’t done since the 2018-19 campaign. Although they didn’t reach the NCAA Tournament, there were notable improvements on the Hill, including a home win over seventh-ranked North Carolina.
Syracuse will have to move on this season from scoring superstar Judah Mintz, who left for the pros. However, other than losing Mintz and transfers Maliq Brown and Quadir Copeland, Syracuse returns most of its core. Juniors JJ Starling and Chris Bell are the top returners, while incoming transfers Eddie Lampkin Jr., Jaquan Carlos, Jyare Davis, and Lucas Taylor all averaged at least 10 PPG at their previous schools.
The Orange also has 5-star Donnie Freeman, who catapulted toward the top of the recruiting rankings in the summer. He could wind up starting at power forward and have a great offensive game, which could help replace what was lost in Mintz’s scoring production.
There’s no doubt that Autry has a very deep and talented roster, but getting it to click together and take another step forward and get back to playing Syracuse basketball will be the greatest task.
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Head coach: Adrian Autry (2nd season overall, both at Syracuse)
2023-24 record: 20-12 (11-9)
2024 postseason finish: No postseason
Notable departures:
- Judah Mintz (18.8 PPG, 4.4 APG, 3.2 RPG, 2.1 SPG)
- Maliq Brown (9.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 2.2 SPG, 69.8 FG%)
- Quadir Copeland (9.6 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.5 SPG)
- Justin Taylor (5.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.0 APG)
Notable non-conference games:
- vs. Colgate (Nov. 12)
- vs. Texas (Nov. 21)
- vs. St. Joe’s OR Texas Tech (Nov. 22)
- at Tennessee (Dec. 3)
- vs. Georgetown (Dec. 14)
- vs. Maryland (Dec. 21)
Projected Rotation
PG: Jaquan Carlos (6-0, 160, Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 10.4 PPG, 6.3 APG, 4.4 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 34.4 3P% (Hofstra)
SG: JJ Starling (6-4, 200, Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 13.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.9 APG
SF: Chris Bell (6-7, 180, Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 12.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 0.7 APG, 42.0 3P%
PF: Donnie Freeman (6-9, 190, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #13 ranked recruit
C: Eddie Lampkin (6-11, 265, Gr.-Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 10.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.2 APG, 57.9 FG% (Colorado)
6: Jyare Davis (6-7, 215, Sr.)
2023-24 stats: 17.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.4 APG (Delaware)
7: Kyle Cuffe (6-2, 180, Rs.-So.)
2023-24 stats: 3.2 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.5 APG
8: Naheem McLeod (7-4, 265, Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 3.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 0.1 APG, 1.9 BPG, 59.4 FG%
9: Elijah Moore (6-4, 170, Fr.)
247Sports Composite #99 ranked recruit
10: Lucas Taylor (6-5, 195, Rs.-Jr.)
2023-24 stats: 14.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.8 APG, 35.4 3P% (Georgia State)
11: Chance Westry (6-6, 190, Rs.-So.)
2023-24: DNP (Injury)
2022-23 stats: 2.5 PPG, 1.0 APG, 0.7 RPG (Auburn)
Syracuse Basketball team MVP: JJ Starling
I’m not sure if Syracuse has a true number-one option, whereas last season, Judah Mintz was that guy. But Starling, a Central New York native, can be both one of the top scorers and playmakers on this year’s Orange squad.
Starling improved his three-point shot as last season wore on and that’s the biggest thing for him this year. Once again, Syracuse won’t be a knock-down shooting team, but if Starling can be semi-consistent, it’ll add a lot to what they do on offense.
He’s the hometown kid, a fan favorite, and will be playing with a lot of talent around him. Expect big things from the junior.
Syracuse Basketball make-or-break player: Eddie Lampkin
Post-play has been an issue for Syracuse basketball for years. While the Orange have had some solid big men like Jesse Edwards and Pascal Chukwu, they haven’t had a big body to resemble the days of Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku in well over a decade.
Lampkin, a Colorado transfer, would change that immediately. Lampkin is nearly 7-feet tall, but more importantly, weighs over 250 pounds, even after slimming down. He used to be in the 300-pound range, and has always been a force to be reckoned with inside.
The guard and forward play for Syracuse is very deep, but other than Naheem McLeod off the bench, Lampkin is the only other true big man. Jyare Davis is aggressive on the boards, but
Key analytic: Three-pointers
Revisiting the topic of the deep ball, the Orange were one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the ACC last season. They only made 6.8 treys per game and were outside the top 200 in the country in 3PM, 3PA, and 3P%. That’s not the best recipe for success in today’s day of age.
This season, things could change, even if the Orange aren’t looking to live and die by the three. Last season, Bell was arguably the only Orange player who consistently hit shots from outside. This season, the additions of Carlos, Taylor, and Moore should help drastically in that department.
I still see Syracuse being a balanced team offensively, given Lampkin’s presence, Freeman’s mid-range game, and Starling’s game of taking it to the rack. But you won’t be able to sag off when certain Orange players have the ball on the perimeter.
Syracuse Basketball 2024-25 projections
Projected conference finish: 10th in the ACC
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Round of 64 Exit
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