Syracuse Basketball: Biggest Storylines to Watch for Orange in 2014-15

The exhibitions are over, and the Syracuse basketball teams will start playing games that count in a matter of days. The Orange will tip off the 2014-15 season Friday night when Kennesaw State come to town.

This year's version of the Orange look much different than last year. There are three new starters, and the rotation will be made up of players who only saw the floor in mop-up duty last season. The two returning starters, Trevor Cooney and Rakeem Christmas, will also take on much bigger roles in the new campaign.

With the season right around the corner, let's take a look at the biggest storylines for fans to follow.

We ranked the entries based on their importance and how much of an effect they can have on the Orange's season. 

4. The Rehab of DaJuan Coleman

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We start with a question that has been surrounding the Orange since January.

When is DaJuan Coleman going to return to the court, if at all?

Coleman has been sidelined since losing his second season in as many years to knee surgery. However, he and trainer Brad Pike recently told Mike Waters of Syracuse.com that Coleman's recovery is "right on schedule."

Waters detailed how Coleman reached a milestone a few weeks ago when he didn't have to do the majority of his exercise in a plunge pool. Waters said Coleman has now "jumped rope, sidestepped his way over a rope ladder and lunged and squated [sic] his way up and down the court."

Waters also said there is no timetable on Coleman's return, and that Pike said "November is going to be a big month."

If Coleman has only recently gotten out of the pool and started jumping rope, it's hard to imagine him returning to the court any time soon.

In any case, the Orange need him. They have no depth at center after Rakeem Christmas. Backup Chinonso Obokoh redshirted last season.

Therefore, the Orange could use Coleman as an experienced backup should Christmas find himself in foul trouble. It would be unwise to rush Coleman back, but the sooner he is able to return, the better off the Orange will be.

3. The Sophomore Progression

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Let's move on to players who are currently suiting up for the Orange.

After Jim Boeheim lost Tyler Ennis, C.J. Fair, Jerami Grant and Baye Keita, younger players were forced into bigger roles for this season.

Specifically, last year's freshman class (the ones not named Ennis) stands to get a big bump in minutes in its second season.

Tyler Roberson is now a starter, and Ron Patterson and B.J. Johnson each will earn minutes based on how they are playing.

Patterson will likely get more minutes at first because the Orange are thinner at guard. He has shown aggression off the bench and isn't afraid to take shots. If Trevor Cooney continues to struggle, Patterson will be one of the players Boeheim turns to for some scoring help.

There's also Chinonso Obokoh, who redshirted last year but is considered a sophomore because of a ruling by the NCAA. With DaJuan Coleman out, Obokoh is the backup center for the Orange.

This group of players barely saw the floor last year, and now they are key rotation players for the Orange. It will be interesting to monitor what the sophomore class brings to the table this season. 

2. The Freshman Impact

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In addition to the sophomore class, the Orange freshman are also going to have a big impact on this year's team.

With two newcomers starting, the progression of the freshmen ranks higher on this list.

Kaleb Joseph and Chris McCullough have both looked comfortable through the exhibition season. McCullough followed a 14-point, six-rebound outing against Carleton with 13 points and 16 rebounds in the rout of Adrian. Meanwhile, Joseph had 19 points, four rebounds and four assists against Carleton and nine points, six rebounds and four assists in the matchup with Adrian. 

The most important stat for Joseph this season will be his turnovers. He gave the ball away only once each game, which Jim Boeheim will take from the young point guard. Joseph will likely give the ball away more once the level of competition rises, but if he can avoid piling up the mistakes, he will be able to stay on the floor.

McCullough represents the only inside presence the Orange have besides Rakeem Christmas. If both are struggling, the Orange will have to rely too much on perimeter players. Christmas will also need backup on the glass, and so far McCullough has looked up to the task.

The lights haven't been too bright for the Orange youngsters, but things will be different when they start playing games for real. We will have to monitor how the freshmen look as the opposition gets tougher. 

1. The Cooney Factor

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This will be the first topic of conversation at the end of every game. How did Trevor Cooney do? Did he light up the scoreboard or lay some bricks?

During the Orange's exhibition season, Cooney continued to struggle as he did at the end of last season. Through two exhibitions, Cooney is 2-of-13 from deep. For the Orange to have success against the legitimate opponents they will face this season, Cooney will have to be better.

Generally, there isn't much to be taken away from preseason games. However, Cooney's continued struggles are worth noting. Even though Syracuse was able to get by without much of a contribution from him early on, the Orange won't be able to do so once the schedule heats up.

If Cooney continues to be streaky with his shooting, other Orange players will have to step up. Considering most of the other rotation players have little experience, Cooney needs to find his shot sooner rather than later.