Beginning Monday, June 21st, 2004 CHN began unveiling 144 Team previews in 144 Days. CHN ranked the nations top 144 teams, and is unveiling one per day leading up until the opening day of the 2004-05 Season.

Bookmark the 144 Teams in 144 Days home page, and check back each day to see which team is previewed next.

#8 Syracuse Orange

Big East

2003-04: 23-8, 11-5, 3^rd

2003-04 postseason: NCAA Sweet Sixteen

By Joel Welser

Gerry McNamara and Hakim Warrick anchor a talented team that returns just about everybody.  After a Sweet Sixteen run that ended at the hands of surprise Alabama, the Orange are ready to take the next step. 

Who’s Out: The only impact loss for the Orange is 6-8 center Jeremy McNeil.  McNeil was a solid option off the bench scoring 3.0 points and grabbing 2.7 boards per game.  Little used Ronny Herron and Andrew Kouwe have also run out of eligibility. 

Who’s In: The Wright brothers should make an impact as freshmen, although they aren’t really brothers.  Josh Wright is fast break specialist.  The 6-2 point guard can and will run with anybody.  He should see some minutes when Gerry McNamara needs a break, or if McNamara gets some time at the off guard.  Dayshawn Wright, a 6-6 forward, is the prototypical long and lean Syracuse front man.  With Craig Forth, Hakim Warrick and Demetris Nichols expected to start, Wright will have to pay his dues for at least one season.  He’ll have to compete for minutes off the bench with returnees Matt Gorman, Terrence Roberts and Darryl Watkins. 

Who to Watch: Billy Edelin has been ruled eligible to play by the NCAA.  It would be nice if he was on the floor so Gerry McNamara could play at the two guard, but what will happen with Edelin seems to always be a murky situation.  McNamara won’t have any problem running the point with Josh Pace joining him in the backcourt.  McNamara averaged 17.2 points, 3.8 assists and 2.6 rebounds as a sophomore last season.  No matter where he plays, he can put up numbers that are just as productive.  Although Pace is the defensive specialist, McNamara is a solid defender who averaged 1.7 steals per outing last year.  The most famous thing to come out of Scranton, PA since coal and an obscure Harry Chapin song will lead this team deep into the NCAA Tournament.

Projected Conference Rank: Pittsburgh, Connecticut and Notre Dame won’t make it easy for the Orange, but Syracuse is a deep and talented team that should end up 1^st in the conference.  The deep bench will allow head coach Jim Boeheim to stay competitive day in and day out in a tough conference.  If Billy Edelin is back to where he could be, then the Orange have three high quality point guards.  Add Hakim Warrick’s 19.8 points and 8.6 rebounds and the Orange will be a tough team to beat.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

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Email Joel Welser: jwelser_chn@ameritech.net

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