Last year, the lack of production from the center position was masked by Rick Jackson spending so much time there. The bottom line is, Fab Melo was a big disappointment, and while Baye Mousa Keita showed promise, he was very limited offensively and struggled in conference play with his slim frame. This season, the Orange don't have Jackson to be a safety valve if the other two falter.
Fab Melo
Yes they were only exhibition games, and yes they were against vastly inferior competition. But there are things you can take away from those performances. Fab Melo looks like a completely different player than the one who could barely get up and down the court last year. He looks different than the player that seemed to commit three fouls in the first five minutes of every game, on his way to a stat line of 8 minutes, 2 points, 1 rebound, 4 fouls (or something similar to that). Coach Boeheim stated numerous times that Melo just wasn't in the proper condition to get up and down the court. However, Fab has come into this year thirty pounds lighter, and with renewed confidence. He just looks the part now. Up and down the court he goes without so much as an extra breath. He rotates in the zone, stands his ground, is physical without committing fouls, and dare I say it, is actually getting in decent rebounding position. His mid-range jumper is something Orange fans haven't seen from the center position since the days Elvir Ovcina. If he can be a consistent threat offensively, rebound well, stay out of foul trouble, and be a force inside in the zone, it takes this team to a completely different level. Yes he'll have games where he struggles. Everyone does. But I just love the look he has in his eye this year. It's one of determination, confidence, and knowledge of the system. Completely different from last year. Based on what I've seen so far, I expect a HUGE leap forward. That's not to say he's going to be an All-American or Big East 1st team. But an above average player who makes plays. He needs to be able to play 25 minutes or so per game. That will allow Keita and Christmas to split the other 15 minutes. If Fab doesn't play well or reverts back to being an enigma like last season, Syracuse can still be a good team. However, if he can be what we've seen in the exhibition games, Syracuse can be a championship team.
Baye Mousa Keita
We all know the book on Keita. He's tall, long, and athletic. He's good on the glass, and has a knack for block shots. Offensively he's limited. There were a few signs of improvement, like when he hit a baby hook in the first preseason game. That certainly raised some eyebrows. But given that he's the backup center, and likely won't be counted on to play 25-30 minutes most nights, the Orange don't need a ton of offensive production from him. They need him to come in, play well in the zone, hustle, block shots, and control the defensive boards. That would be huge for a team that has a plethora of offensive talent. Hopefully, he'll be better equipped to take the pounding the Big East season undoubtedly will bring, as he appeared to wear down some towards the end of last year. His slender frame is cause for some concern, but as long as he isn't needed for 30+ minutes per game, he should be fine for his role. And does it appear he's done a little bulking up, although not an enormous amount. He's just a slim guy, and that's OK as long as he's prepared for the beating.
Rakeem Christmas
When Boeheim decides to go small, Christmas will likely see some time in the middle. We saw that in the last preseason game against St. Rose. That lineup features him at center, with Joseph and Fair at the forward spots. That lineup is quicker and more athletic. It's a great asset to have when facing some smaller teams that the Orange normally face during the season. In this role, Christmas will be counted on to play a similar role as described with Keita above. Play defense, block shots, create turnovers, and control the glass. Allow the quicker, more athletic Orange to get out on the break and create easy transition opportunities. That's the name of the game here. Christmas' abilities suggest he could fill that role very nicely.
The Orange have depth at center, but it is very young and raw. Fab and Keita are your most experienced players there, and that can be scary. But the talent and potential is there. The leap from freshman year to sophomore year for big men can be gigantic in terms of development. It will need to be if they are to live up to the preseason hype.
No comments:
Post a Comment