5 Keys for Orange to Be Beast in the Big East in 2011-12

Syracuse has consistently found itself in the upper echelon of the Big East Conference the past few years. But the conference is only getting more competitive, and it will be an uphill battle for them to maintain their success, play well in the conference tournament and gain a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. Boeheim's boys will have to shake off last year's early tourney exit and navigate through the rigorous conference schedule.

Syracuse definitely has the tools in place to be a contender, with a great mix of veteran leadership and youth. But it takes a well-balanced, tough-minded team to be a beast in the Big East. Do the Orange have what it takes? Here are 5 things Syracuse needs to do in order to finish atop the conference.

Get the Young Talent in a Groove

Boeheim landed 3 top-tier freshman for this season: Trevor Cooney, Michael Carter-Williams, and Rakeem Christmas. Cooney has great ball skills and can shoot from all angles. Carter-Williams was a McDonald's All-American and dropped 44 at the NIKE Peach Jam. Christmas is a 6'9" forward (also a McDonalds All-American) who might be the most important addition.

These young guns must find their role early on the so they can contribute when called upon during the tough stretch of the season.

Boeheim hopes Christmas can make an immediate impact to help fill the void left by Rick Jackson. He is ranked the 20th best prospect in the country on ESPNU's class of 2011, and has earned high praise for his shot blocking and rebounding. He'll need to continue the tradition of great Philly talent for the Orange in order for them to excel.

Jardine and Triche Must Be Efficient

Boeheim recruits athletic players with great length and agility in order to maximize the effectiveness of his legendary 2-3 zone defense. Unfortunately, this athleticism often hinders the efficiency of the offense. In half-court scenarios, the Orange tend to rely on their athleticism too much.

Sure, it's important to take advantage of the athleticism of a star like Kris Joseph; but too often, Syracuse players can be found standing idle, watching a player go one-on-one (and failing).

Veteran guards Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche are key to getting the half-court attack rolling. It is up to them to establish a rhythm and make sure that everyone on the floor is involved in the offense. The more they stretch the defense with all 5 players and avoid unnecessary dribbling, the more efficient the offense will be. It will give them more quality possessions, leading to scoring totals pushing 80 and 90, rather than 50 or 60.

Take Care of Business at the Free Throw Line

Syracuse ranked last in the Big East (16th out of 16 teams) and 278th in the country in free throw percentage last year, shooting 65.9% from the charity stripe. Ouch.

If they had been just 5 or 10 percent better, they could have avoided some close losses, and won more of their games by comfortable margins. Was it a lack of preparation? A lack of focus? A lack of skill? Probably a combination of all three. The bottom line is that this team must improve its foul shooting in order to give them a chance to win tight games.

Key players such as Scoop Jardine (66% FT shooting last season), Fab Melo (36%), and Baye Moussa Keita (48%), all need to to step it up and take care of business when fouled. They will all be getting more touches this year, and with that comes the responsibility to knock down clutch free throws. 

Kris Joseph's Emergence

Kris Joseph is the most talented player on Syracuse's roster, and they will need him to play like an All-American this year in order to compete for the Big East title.

Early on in his career, he was mostly a slasher and a leaper, but he has gradually expanded his game to become a respectable shooter with good range. Last season, he averaged the 14 points and 5 rebounds, and Boeheim will count on him to improve in both of those categories this season. 

If the Orange want to take it to the next level, Joseph will have to take his stardom to the next level. He'll need to play aggressive and use his talents to carry the team. Likewise, his teammates will be called upon to set him up and get him the ball on the wing and in transition.

Use the 2-3 to Get out and Run

The single-most important phase of the game that could separate the Orange from the rest of the pack is their use of the active 2-3 zone to spark transition opportunities.

It's no secret that Boeheim employs the most effective 2-3 zone in the country, and the size and athleticism of his squad makes it the perfect tool to start the fast break. If they utilize their zone defense aggressively and force some turnovers, it will lead to some highlight-reel fireworks on the other end of the floor.

There's no question that Syracuse has right pieces to do this. Jardine and Triche see the floor well, and Dion Waiters, C.J. Fair, and Joseph are all exceptional finishers. The question is whether each of the players on the roster can work well together to maximize the potential of this 2-3 attack.