Syracuse Orange Outlook: What to Watch for as the Season Unfolds

Jim Boeheim's Syracuse Orange have started the season 3-0, and they look like one of the deepest teams in the country.

There's plenty of size and athleticism to go around, and it looks like there will be 10 major contributors every game. Boeheim's task is to find the right combinations of players and get an optimal rotation.

Although they have a lot of weapons, Syracuse still has room for improvement. What can we expect from the Orange in 2011-2012, and what are some keys to their season? Let's take a look.

The Emergence of Baye Moussa Keita and Fab Melo

With the loss of Rick Jackson in the paint, the Orange will be relying on sophomores Baye Moussa Keita and Fabricio Melo and freshman Rakeem Christmas. They will need to step up their offensive production and fill the rebounding void that Jackson left.

Fortunately, it looks like both Keita and Melo have raised their level of play. Melo is lighter on his feet and quicker to the glass, and he's asserting himself more on the offensive end. Keita has been an active presence on both ends and looks more comfortable around the rim.

The improvement of both centers will be crucial to Syracuse's success in the Big East.

Philadelphia Guards' Impact

Philadelphia natives Scoop Jardine and Dion Waiters bring an exciting brand of basketball to Jim Boeheim's squad.

Jardine is the floor general, so if he can make the right decisions and keep the Orange tempo where it needs to be, Syracuse will be in good shape. He's one of the most experienced guards in the Big East, but he still needs to provide more consistency.

Waiters has looked great so far this season, averaging 13 points per game. His energy is contagious on offense and defense, and he is a threat to drive or shoot from long range. Let's see if he can improve his ball-handling and take better care of the ball.

Will They Be Patient?

Syracuse has a handful of players who are great at attacking the basket and using their athleticism. However, their tendency to attack the basket early on in possessions might hurt them down the road.

On several possessions throughout their first three games, Orange players opted to drive right to the hoop or force up a shot early in the shot-clock.

I know it's okay to pick your spots and attack early sometimes, but players like Brandon Triche and Dion Waiters will have to be wise. Big East defenders won't be as forgiving during their forays to the hoop.

Can Freshmen Contribute in Prime Time?

Center Rakeem Christmas and guard Michael Carter-Williams will see some decent playing time this season, and Boeheim will count on them to contribute immediately.

Christmas should have an instant impact on defense and on the boards. Keep an eye on him at the other end of the floor, as it seems like he's trying to find his role on offense. He does have a field goal percentage of 77.8, which is good news.

Michael Carter-Williams looks confident so far and could be a nice playmaker this season. We'll see how his thin frame holds up throughout the physical Big East season. His length and skills should help him dish out a few assists each game.

James Southerland's Prowess

James Southerland is the Orange player that I'm most interested to watch this season.

He brings energy to the floor every time he checks in and runs well for a tall, lanky guy. He'll use his size to grab rebounds and shoot over defenders.

Speaking of shooting, Southerland's got one of the best strokes on the team. Tuesday night he showed his offensive skills by scoring 19 points off the bench, including going 3-of-4 from behind the arc.

Southerland will look to build on his early season success and be one of Syracuse's key competitors.

Turning Up the Heat on Defense

Jim Boeheim has been toying with some new defensive looks this season. He's been mixing in more man-to-man and full-court pressure to supplement the 2-3 zone.

I don't know how much of each set we'll see once the conference games arrive, but Syracuse's deep roster does lend itself to increased defensive pressure and changes.

The roster's level of comfort with the defensive schemes will dictate how aggressive and how successful they can be this season. The Orange have a good track record defensively, and I don't think that's going to change anytime soon.

Kris Joseph's POY Candidacy

Through his first three years Kris has been one of Syracuse's best players. The Orange faithful now want to see if he can take the next step and become an elite college basketball player.

Can Joseph rise to national stardom and be Player of the Year?

All the tools are there: the athleticism, the skills, the versatility. Let's see if his smooth shooting stroke and penetration skills dominate the Big East and beyond. On a deep team like Syracuse, it might be tough for Joseph to average 20 points per game, but he definitely has the talent to do it.