We put it to debate
The Syracuse Orange men’s basketball season is rapidly approaching and with the exhibition schedule half-over, we’re already in mid-season form with hot takes.
An old cliche is finding its way back to the 315. Don’t look now, but the banal phrase of Syracuse not having a go-to guy has resurfaced.
Syracuse has a plethora of pretty good players — not sure though if there’s a great one. Will this team identify a go-to guy? The million dollar question in the 315.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 21, 2024
Pretty soon we will be reminded of how Syracuse has nothing but cupcakes on its non-conference schedule and wouldn’t leave the state of New York in non-conference play if not for the ACC/SEC Challenge, which…
*fact check*
The latter is actually correct. You gotta get out in front of these things.
That said, do we think Syracuse has a go-to guy on this roster and if so who is it?
Szuba: Jonathon E. Starling
While I buy that there might not be any great individual player on this year’s Syracuse team, I do think JJ Starling can be the go-to guy. Within reason, Starling can take the shots he sees fit and he should be able to showcase more of his game in ways he wasn’t able to last year. He’s trusted and I do imagine scenarios where he will have to take over games during offensive slogs, specific matchups, late-clock situations and in crunch time. Starling did it at times last year when needed (most notably vs. North Carolina). But with a roster that’s better suited to run the kind of offense that Autry wants, he also might not have to.
Rothstein might know something I don’t, be involved in different conversations and I certainly respect his hustle. I’ll also send wire details for the million. Thank you for your time.
Kevin: Chris Bell
I think Starling is the likely choice, but I’ll take Bell because honestly he might be the toughest guy for opponents to take away this year. Yes, Syracuse used him primarily as a spot-up shooter prior to this season, but with Bell’s size and ability to hit from deep, he’s the guy who should be the one to get a look when the Orange need a bucket.
Now, Bell doesn’t need to become amazing off the bounce, but if he can channel some of Buddy Boeheim’s pump-fake and two dribbles into a paint jumper that would work. Bell also has the ability to cut backdoor against over-aggressive defenders and finish at the rim. It wouldn’t shock me if Bell leads this squad in scoring in 24-25.
Dom: Starling and Eddie Lampkin Jr.
The way this question is framed, it’s hard for me to genuinely pick one concrete player who’s going to have the ball in isolation when the offense stalls or the Orange desperately need a bucket. We have one exhibition game to go off of so far, but there’s clearly two versions of scoring Syracuse will rely upon.
The first is obviously Starling. He’ll command more of an on-ball role with the departure of Judah Mintz, but with someone like Jaquan Carlos alongside him, Starling can also play off the ball as a cutter or occasional shooter. Then, there’s Lampkin who can kind of do it all: isolations on the block, interior scoring, setting screens and rolling to the rim, commanding attention as a passer along the foul line/elbow areas, etc. Part of being a “go-to guy” to me is having someone who can get his own shot but also command attention and facilitate to others. Lampkin being able to do that as a five adds such a unique dimension fans haven’t really seen with a Syracuse center in quite some time.
Sam: JJ Starling
Does Syracuse have a superstar? No.
Is that a problem? Also no.
JJ Starling showed time and time again last season that he can bail you out on a broken play or with the shot clock winding down. In fact, he ranked 3rd in the ACC last year in short clock points per game, behind only J.R. Konieczny and Markus Burton.
Syracuse will go to different players for different things. Chris Bell is still going to take (and make) a ton of threes, Lampkin is going to be a post-up and high-post threat, Carlos will move the ball around the perimeter and generate paint touches, and Donnie Freeman will do a little of everything.
But a go-to guy doesn’t have to be a superstar, and Starling’s ability to get downhill and finish in the paint, along with a continually improving jump shot means he’s the player that can get Syracuse out of the most tough situations that the offense generates, for better or for worse.
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Do you agree with our choices or does another player strike you as the go-to guy for Adrian Autry?