Syracuse Orange Basketball 2016-2017 Player Previews: DaJuan Coleman

Each day leading up to Orange Madness we will be releasing our player previews for the 2016-2017 Syracuse basketball season. Today’s player preview: DaJuan Coleman

Call him what you will, (Dijon Coleman) or misspell his name and Syracuse fans will let you know ad nauseam. But DaJuan Coleman has the opportunity to do something no Syracuse player has ever done: earn a trip to three Final Fours.

Realistically, Coleman played better than what any person could have asked him to last season. Just making it through a full season completely healthy was a major win for the local kid. In his first year back from injury, Coleman averaged 4.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season.

The fifth-year senior will be counted on to build off of those numbers from a year ago. He’ll likely split time at the center position with Providence transfer Paschal Chukwu. Coleman is Syracuse’s lone post threat as Chukwu figures to score most of his buckets in lob scenarios. How often Syracuse will enter the ball into the low block remains to be seen. To be frank, with such talent on the perimeter, dollars to donuts that number is low.

The key for Coleman will be his mobility in the center position and rebounding. Any sort of offensive outburst from him should be considered a bonus. If Coleman can rebound, play defense and score on the occasional tip-in or post move, his senior season will have been a success.

Syracuse Orange Basketball 2016-2017 Player Previews: John Gillon

Syracuse Orange Basketball 2016-2017 Player Previews: Frank Howard