Tyler Ennis smiling.JPG

Syracuse freshman Tyler Ennis, shown here this summer in Ottawa, will take the reins to the Orange this year.

(Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com)

Syracuse, N.Y. — When a reporter told Jim Boeheim at ACC Media Day that he had voted for Tyler Ennis as the league's preseason rookie of the year and needed to know whether that choice was "crazy," the Syracuse coach not only assured the man of his sanity, he applauded the recognition.

"You're the only one who's right," Boeheim said. "He's going to play about 38 minutes a game."

This should not come as a shock to anyone who follows the Orange basketball program. Ennis, the freshman from Brampton, Ontario, is the only pure point guard on the Syracuse roster. And precedent, in the form of Jonny Flynn, has been set.

Ennis and his father said the potential for Tyler to play huge minutes his rookie year factored heavily into his decision to attend Syracuse. Tony McIntyre, Ennis' dad, said during a brief conversation at the Melo Center last week that his son is in as perfect a position as the family could have imagined. Michael Carter-Williams' decision to forfeit his final two seasons of college basketball for the NBA assured Ennis of that.

"I definitely think I'm ready," Ennis said. "One of the main factors in my decision to come here was the role that I'd play with Michael leaving. They let me know that if Michael left, there would be big shoes to fill as far as minutes and the role that he played. So I think I've been prepared for that since I got here."

Ennis, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, said he has collaborated with Orange strength and conditioning coach Ryan Cabiles since Ennis arrived on campus to create a program that would allow Ennis to endure the rigors of the season. Ennis said he's had several conversations with Trevor Cooney about the best ways to preserve his body during what promises to be a long year. "A daily cold tub," was an underlined suggestion.

This year, too, college basketball officials are supposed to pay stricter attention to all manner of hand-checking. Ennis is aware of the tighter scrutiny and wonders whether opponents will attempt to lure him into foul trouble.

"Yeah, I mean if that were to happen, I think we might be in a little bit of trouble," he said. "But that's just me being smart with my fouls, knowing my role on the team."

His role, according to Boeheim, will be to lead a young backcourt and a deep, talented frontcourt into its first season in the ACC. Boeheim, judging from his preseason comments, believes Ennis is ready to shoulder the load.

"He's an old-school guard who makes simple plays," Boeheim said. "He gets people involved. He's not as explosive as Michael was. He can't do some of the things that Michael could do. But he's a very, very solid player."

Ennis was one of 46 players on the watch list of candidates for the 2014 Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award. The list was announced Tuesday by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Duke's Jabari Parker, incidentally, was named the ACC's preseason rookie of the year.