5 Way-Too-Early Predictions for Syracuse Basketball in 2015-16

By Bryan Zarpentine

5 Way-Too-Early Predictions for Syracuse Basketball in 2015-16

Cornell v Syracuse — Last year was arguably the most disappointing Syracuse basketball season of the Jim Boeheim era. Heading into the 2015-16 campaign, the Orange have scholarship limitations to deal with and a world of questions to answer. Syracuse has low expectations for next season and a long list of variables that will determine how its season plays out. With that in mind, here are five way-too-early predictions for the Orange in 2015 and 2016.

5. Little Impact from Kaleb Joseph

Kaleb Joseph Syracuse

5. Little Impact from Kaleb Joseph

Kaleb Joseph Syracuse — Joseph's freshman season was a disaster in most respects and expectations are extremely low for his sophomore campaign. Players tend to take a big step forward from their freshman to sophomore year, but such a progression for Joseph still makes him a minor role player for the Orange this year. Unless he can show extraordinary growth during the early part of the season, it's tough to imagine Joseph making much of an impact.

4. Michael Gbinije Will Be the Starting Point Guard

Michael Gbinije

4. Michael Gbinije Will Be the Starting Point Guard

Michael Gbinije — After Joseph's struggles last year, Boeheim appears poised to make Gbinije the starting point guard this year. Gbinije split those duties with Joseph last year, and while Syracuse may be better with Gbinije playing off the ball, they don't have any better options. The silver lining is that Gbinije will be one of the Orange's top scorers along with Trevor Cooney; having the ball in his hands most of the time may not be such a terrible thing.

3. Freshmen Who Will Actually Contribute

Malachi Richardson

3. Freshman Who Will Actually Contribute

Malachi Richardson — After Chris McCullough got injured and Joseph struggled so much last year, it'll be nice for Syracuse to actually get meaningful contributions from their freshman class this year. Malachi Richardson, Moustapha Diagne and Tyler Lydon should all challenge for a starting spot, and all three should be in Boeheim's rotation, ready to make impact right away. To be frank, the Orange won't survive without contributions from their freshmen.

2. DaJuan Coleman Continues To Struggle with Injuries

DaJuan Coleman

2. DaJuan Coleman Continues To Struggle with Injuries

DaJuan Coleman — This is a rather pessimistic point of view, but to be honest, Coleman has seen little of the court during his career because of chronic knee problems. He sat out all of last season with the hope of getting healthy and being ready for the season, but until we see him play and stay active over an extended period of time, it's difficult to imagine him holding up over the course of a long college basketball season.

1. A Return to the NCAA Tournament

NCAA Basketball: Boston College at Syracuse

1. A Return to the NCAA Tournament

NCAA Basketball: Boston College at Syracuse — Last March was tough, as Syracuse endured a postseason ban. While there is plenty going against the Orange this season, they won't be absent from the Big Dance two years in a row. The Orange face a lot of questions heading into the season, and while it may not be pretty, Boeheim will find enough answers to get Syracuse back to the NCAA tournament in 2016. That's just what the great coaches do.

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Syracuse Orange

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