Jim Boeheim praises Elijah Hughes’s offensive talent

One of the Syracuse Orange’s biggest issues last season was having offensive consistency. For 2018-19, we know we’ll have all five starters back and three capable scorers in Tyus Battle, Oshae Brissett and Frank Howard.

However, there may be a fourth name to toss into that mix this season, if you believe Jim Boeheim.

The Hall-of-Famer was on Jon Rothstein’s podcast on Monday and offered up praise for East Carolina transfer Elijah Hughes, who will be able to suit up this year after redshirting last season. Boeheim said he was as talented an offensive player as Syracuse has had in a long time... something that should certainly perk up the ears of the Orange faithful.

Could SU have four major scoring options on its hands this year? If Hughes is the spark Boeheim purports he is, that certainly won’t help us keep realistic expectations. But that’s also a good problem to have. It’s nice to feel like we’re on more stable footing again (as a fan base, anyway).

The rest of your Syracuse-related links below:

Jim Boeheim | Elijah Hughes as talented an offensive player as we’ve had in a long time (Fan Rag Sports)

“He’s as talented an offensive player as we’ve had in a long time,” Boeheim said Monday on the College Hoops Today Podcast in reference to Hughes, a 6-6 wing who averaged 7.8 points two years ago at East Carolina. “We’re going to be a significantly better offensive team next season.”

Former Syracuse basketball player Rakeem Christmas engaged to Michael Jordan’s daughter (Syracuse.com)

It may not be the same as Meghan Markle marrying Prince Harry, but Rakeem Christmas is about to marry into NBA royalty. Christmas, the former Syracuse University basketball player, is now engaged to Jasmine Jordan, the daughter of NBA legend Michael Jordan. Jasmine Jordan announced the couple’s engagement on her Twitter page on Sunday.

Syracuse football recruiting: Florida WR Ezeriah Anderson puts Orange in Top 6 (Syracuse,com)

The 6-foot-4, 198-pound Anderson is not yet rated by the major recruiting services, but given his growing offer sheet -- one that also includes Western Michigan, Air Force and Cincinnati, among others -- that likely won’t stay that way for long. The Orange joined that group on Saturday and has connections to Armwood, including former Hawk Sterling Hofrichter, who is a redshirt junior punter and kicker.

Syracuse women’s basketball gets foe for ACC/Big Ten challenge (Syracuse.com)

The Orange will travel to Minnesota on Thursday, Nov. 29, for the first meeting in program history between the programs, both of which reached the NCAA Tournament last season. The first five games of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge take place on Wednesday, Nov. 28, while the remaining nine, including Syracuse at Minnesota, are scheduled for the next day.

Room to improve: Which basketball practice facilities are generating serious buzz? (News-Gazette)

ALL ABOUT THE ENTRY: First impressions can be key in recruiting. The entry into Syracuse’s Carmelo K. Anthony Center, which opened in 2009, is the Orange’s Hall of Fame, and the 2003 NCAA title trophy has a prominent position.

50 Upstate NY colleges that have the highest-paid graduates, ranked (New York Upstate)

Virginia football coach Bronco Mendenhall: ‘I want to play the worst power-5 team that we can play’ (Daily Progress)

College football’s likely expanding to 43 bowl games, LOL, including one at Wrigley Field, per report (SB Nation)

LeBron to produce documentary on ‘exploitative’ NCAA (NBC Sports Talk)