10 teams that can win it all: No. 3, Syracuse

By Staff     Mar 3, 2010

Each week in this space, KUSports.com online editor Jesse Newell will take a statistical look at one of the 10 teams that has the best chance of taking this year’s NCAA title. All statistics do not include Syracuse’s 85-66 victory over St. John’s on Tuesday night.

Previous articles in this series

No. 10, Kansas State

No. 9, West Virginia

No. 8, Villanova

No. 7, BYU

No. 6, Wisconsin

No. 5, Purdue

No. 4, Kentucky

Team: Syracuse

Record: 28-2

AP/Coaches Ranking: 1st/1st

KenPom (Ken Pomeroy) Ranking: 3rd

Strengths

Only three teams nationally can claim to be in the top 10 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, and the Orange is one of them (ninth offensive, 10th defensive).

Offensively, Syracuse is especially effective inside. The Orange makes 57.5 percent of its two-pointers (second nationally) and also only has 5.4 percent of its two-pointers blocked (second nationally). SU also is good on the offensive glass, grabbing 37.9 percent of its misses (27th nationally) while making a high percentage of its threes (38.4 percent, 31st nationally).

Defensively, Syracuse’s 2-3 zone has made it tough on opponents to even get shots to the rim. The Orange blocks 18.3 percent of its opponents’ two-point attempts (third nationally) and also picks up steals on 14.3 percent of its defensive possessions (third nationally). SU also does a good job of not fouling, as opponents are averaging just 9.8 made free throws per game against the Orange.

Weaknesses

Syracuse has been careless with the basketball at times, turning it over on 21.4 percent of its possessions (226th nationally). Because of its zone defense, SU also has a tendency to give up a high number of offensive rebounds; opponents come away with offensive boards on 35.1 percent of their misses (273rd nationally).

The Orange also struggles from the free-throw line, making just 67.3 percent of its shots there (228th nationally). Coach Jim Boeheim doesn’t have the deepest bench either, as non-starters play just 27.4 percent of Syracuse’s minutes (264th nationally).

Players to watch

Six-foot-7 junior Wesley Johnson is considered the Orange’s best player, and the statistics back this up. Not only does the Iowa State transfer play in a team-high 85.7 percent of SU’s minutes, he also contributes in a number of statistical categories. Johnson ranks in the top 350 nationally in defensive rebounding percentage, block percentage and steal percentage. He’s also an impressive shooter, making 53.4 percent of his two-pointers and 39 percent of his threes.

Senior guard Andy Rautins provides Syracuse with a strong defensive presence, picking up steals on 3.7 percent of the Orange’s defensive possessions (79th nationally). He’s also accurate from wherever he shoots it, making 80.6 percent of his free throws, 58.7 percent of his twos and 40.3 percent of his threes.

Six-foot-9 forwards Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku provide SU with two more accurate shooters inside. Jackson has made 61 percent of his twos this season, while Onuaku has made 66.2 percent of his two-pointers. It might not be a bad idea to foul both of them, as Jackson is shooting just 52.6 percent from the line, while Onuaku is at 44.4 percent.

Bottom line

Syracuse is one of the few teams in the nation that is elite offensively and defensively. On offense, the Orange is a great shooting team, especially from two-point range. Defensively, SU makes it extremely difficult to even get shots to the rim, as its 2-3 zone forces lots of turnovers and also creates opportunities for blocked shots.

This is easily Boeheim’s best team since the 2003 national championship squad, and truth be told, it looks to be a better defensive team than that squad. The Orange should be considered one of the favorites to win it all this season.

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