Syracuse Basketball: Biggest Adjustments Orange Must Make in 2015-16

The Syracuse basketball team is going to look much different than it did last season. The Orange lost four players, and four new freshmen will take their place and join the returning players to round out the 2015-16 version of the team.

As is the case for every team every year, the Orange will have to make adjustments to maximize their success next season. Let's have a look at the biggest adjustments head coach Jim Boeheim and the rest of the Orange will have to make.

We will rank the entries based on how big of an adjustment each is and how much of an effect it can have on the team's success next fall.

Honorable Mention: Life Without Jim Boeheim

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As part of the punishment handed down by the NCAA in the wake of the investigation into the Syracuse basketball program, Jim Boeheim received a nine-game suspension that will take place once ACC play starts.

Naturally, it will be a big adjustment for the Orange to have Mike Hopkins take over coaching duties in the middle of the season, especially against conference opponents. But this is relegated to honorable mention status because the suspension isn't necessarily set in stone yet.

Boeheim plans to appeal his suspension, so if he is successful he could get some games back. Either way, not having the Hall of Famer on the bench will be a tough obstacle for the Orange to overcome, no matter how many games Boeheim misses.

4. Balancing Point Guard Minutes

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Following a somewhat disappointing freshman year, Kaleb Joseph will hope to become a more consistent point guard in 2015-16.

It's impossible to say how much Joseph will improve in his sophomore year, but the Orange will need him just as much as they did last year. He is still the only true point guard on the roster, and when he has to sit, Michael Gbinije will likely take over ball-handling duties.

Having Gbinije at point guard could also create some mismatches. A lineup consisting of Gbinije, Trevor Cooney, Malachi Richardson, Tyler Roberson and DaJuan Coleman could punish small opposing backcourts. And with each of those players standing at least 6'4", the lineup could create problems on defense as well.

No matter the lineup, the Orange will need someone to initiate the offense and get everyone good shots. The Orange have few players who can get their own shot, so both Joseph and Gbinije will have to protect the ball and set their teammates up to succeed.

Joseph will likely have every opportunity to handle the ball, but if he struggles, Gbinije will be ready to take over.

3. Relying on Youth

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After two players transferred, the Orange are left with only four players who have significant experience.

Because of that, Jim Boeheim will have to lean on his seventh-ranked (according to ESPN) recruiting class. The four-player class consisting of Malachi Richardson, Moustapha Diagne, Tyler Lydon and Franklin Howard will have plenty of chances to earn playing time because of Syracuse's lack of depth.

Boeheim usually only plays six or seven guys, but he might have to go with eight or nine depending on the situation. At least early on in the year, he should play as many players as possible so he can see what he has and iron out his rotation.

In addition, giving his young players meaningful run early on can prepare them to perform when the ACC schedule heats up and the tournament approaches. Considering how tough the ACC could be this year, Boeheim will need all the players he can get.

2. Finding a New Go-to Scorer

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For at least the third year in a row, the Orange will be in search of a new alpha dog on the offensive end.

Two years ago, the Orange were C.J. Fair's team. Last year, Rakeem Christmas was the Orange's offensive cornerstone. This year, yet another new player is going to have to step up and carry the scoring load on offense.

The two primary candidates are seniors Trevor Cooney and Michael Gbinije. The best bet is Gbinije because he has a more diverse offensive game. He averaged 12.7 points per game last year, and he was able to score from the perimeter and off the dribble. At 39.2 percent, Gbinije was also the team's best three-point shooter.

There is still always the possibility of Cooney catching fire from deep on any given night, but at this point it's tough to expect him to be a night-to-night threat outside. Nonetheless, the Orange will still need all they can get from Cooney.

A dark-horse possibility is freshman Malachi Richardson. He will likely come off the bench, but he has the ability to be a Dion Waiters type who comes in and gives the Orange an extra scoring punch.

The Orange will again be offensively challenged, so finding that go-to scorer should be a priority. Because of his experience and late-game chops, expect Gbinije to get the first crack at the role.

1. Working in Inexperienced Centers

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Syracuse will feel the loss of Rakeem Christmas on both ends of the floor. 

Not only was Christmas the No. 1 option on offense, but he was also the anchor of Syracuse's defense. He essentially had no backup this past year, with Chinonso Obokoh only playing spot minutes if Christmas got in foul trouble.

Now, Obokoh and DaJuan Coleman (depending on his health) will get the bulk of the minutes inside. Obokoh is as inexperienced as a junior can get; he played 89 total minutes in the 2014-15 season. And Coleman hasn't played in almost two years, so there's no way to know what he will look like if and when he returns.

Besides Obokoh and Coleman, incoming freshman Moustapha Diagne could get some burn in the middle, but it's unlikely to be much unless he picks up the system quickly. 

This is the biggest adjustment for the Orange because the center is essentially the quarterback of the defense. With the wing players flying out to the perimeter to check three-point shooters, the center is the only rim protector and primary rebounder. If the player inside isn't totally sure of himself, the whole defense could suffer.