While we are not looking at a top 25 ranking for the preseason, this team by seasons end will be in the top 25. I see the Orange establishing themselves in big east play because of a favorable schedule and emerging into the # 20-25 range. I’m putting all my chips in and making a Jim Fassel like statement by saying that this team is going to the tournament. No we will not have the flash and stardom of a guy like Flynn that this past year’s team had, but we will be looking at a 5-7 seed in the dance.

The starting 5 for the orange is extremely promising with Triche, Johnson, Rautins, Jackson and Onuaku, but what scares me is our bench. Joseph and Jardine cannot be relied upon to bail the starters out if they are having an off night. No longer do we have the luxury of a guy in Jonny Flynn that can consistently give us 35-40 min a game. While Rick Jackson has tremendously matured since his freshman days of having worse hands than that guy from Scary Movie 2, he and Onuaku have not outgrown their tendency to get in foul trouble. This along with free throw shooting will be crucial down the stretch in close big east contests. The orange will be relying on these two upperclassmen to get the job done down low because as much as us Cuse fans won’t want to admit it, Triche will see his ups and downs in his first year with the Orange.

‘09/’10 prediction:
19-11 (10-8)

1. seed in the tourney

Not having to play a couple quality big east teams on the road favors the Orange considerably, but I still have doubts in close games regarding who can step up and make the big shots that Devo and Flynn had done in years past. If Rautins can emerge as a consistent scorer this season, Wesley Johnson live up to the hype, Triche control games (doesn’t have to be spectacular just limit the mistakes), and Onuaku and Jackson play the way they did in the first half of ’09, the 2009-2010 Syracuse Orange could turn some heads this season in the Big East.

- JDL

arinze has never been a rah rah guy, and dwayne joseph hardly said boo. andy may be the only true threat from outside the arc, but he could be good enough to carry that responsibility alone. the rest of the squad is a big unknown, although they certainly have displayed talent at the high school level. it would be great if brandon could come in and contribute at the point, but that’s a lot to ask from a freshman and we can’t expect another jonny flynn. with all that said, we really won’t know what kind of team we have until the big east seaon starts. expecting a deep run with that much young talent is something i just can’t do. i’ll be happy with a dance ticket, and everything else is a bonus.