Syracuse Basketball: Ways Orange Must Improve Before Conference Play

The Syracuse basketball team is off to an uncharacteristic start this season. The Orange (5-3) have lost back-to-back games and have several tough games remaining before ACC play begins. Included in the nonconference schedule is a trip to Villanova, which is currently ranked seventh in both polls.

Based on the way Syracuse has played lately, games that could once have been considered gimmes are no longer easy wins. If the Orange want to be competitive in conference play this year, they have to make the most of the remaining nonconference contests.

Let's have a look at a few areas the Orange must focus on ahead of the start of ACC play.

3-Point Shooting

Anyone who has been watching Syracuse play this year knows three-point shooting has been a problem for Syracuse. Considering Trevor Cooney was the only returning three-point threat, it was expected the Orange would struggle a bit from deep.

But no one expected the Orange to be this bad. Of 351 teams, Syracuse (shooting 21.1 percent from three this year) ranks 350th in the nation. Yes, only one team (fellow ACC member Florida State) has been worse than the Orange from the land of plenty early on this season.

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How can the Orange improve their terrible early shooting? One way is just to keep shooting. It seems highly unlikely a team will shoot 20 percent from deep for an entire season. Eventually, some shots have to start falling.

But other than that, the Orange could tweak the way they look for their shots from deep. We've mentioned in the past how the Orange could borrow from the Golden State Warriors playbook and use the "elevator doors" play.

If Rakeem Christmas and Chris McCullough are the screeners, they can help Cooney get a good look at the top of the key. And if multiple defenders close out on Cooney, he could look for either Christmas or McCullough rolling toward the rim. 

In addition, the Orange could alter their spacing on the floor. When either Christmas or McCullough posts up, generally Cooney is on the opposite side of the floor. This allows opponents to more easily double-team because they don't have to worry about the inside player kicking it out to a shooter.

If Cooney is on the same side of the floor as the post player, however, teams will be less willing to double the post in fear of leaving Cooney open. And having Cooney closer to the post player with the ball makes it easier to pass out of the post, because the inside player doesn't have to pass as far across the floor.

If the Orange use some different plays and floor spacing, it can help create more open shots. And if they use their spacing to discourage double-teams, it will make things easier inside, which is where they've had the most success this season.

Speaking of which...

Offensive Philosophy

We know the Orange have struggled to shoot so far this season. When they have had success on offense, it has come inside with Christmas and McCullough. The two Orange big men are the team's top two scorers, with Christmas averaging 16.9 points per game and McCullough scoring 14.4 per. 

You would think that since the Orange have two talented post players, they would run their offense through them, right? So far, that hasn't really been the case.

According to Hoop-Math, Syracuse shoots 67.2 percent on shots at the rim. Considering McCullough and Christmas are the leading scorers, that makes sense. However, only 38.3 percent of Syracuse's shots come at the rim.

Until the shooting issues are figured out, the Orange should run their offense through the post as often as they can. It is difficult sometimes, because opponents can freely double-team since there isn't much of a shooting threat.

But if Cooney is on the same side of the floor as we discussed earlier, that could change things.

In addition, Kaleb Joseph is still finding his way as a college point guard. He's had trouble getting the Orange into their offense at times, and sometimes he can't get the ball in the post when he needs to. That has, in part, led to his turning the ball over 3.3 times per game.

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Orange fans were spoiled by Tyler Ennis' steady play last year, but Joseph is more of what a normal freshman point guard looks like. As he continues to gain experience, he should find it easier to execute the offense.

In the meantime, Michael Gbinije can be used at point guard if Joseph struggles. That was the case in the most recent game against St. John's, in which Gbinije played 37 minutes and Joseph only 19.

Gbinije provides more experience, and if he plays small forward on defense and point guard on offense, it can create some matchup problems for the opponent.

As is normally the case, Syracuse's defense can keep it in just about any game. It has been the offense that has held the Orange back so far this season.

Once ACC play gets going, the defenses and opposing players will get better. If the Orange can work on improving their offense, they will be able to compete in the gauntlet that is the ACC.