Jim Boeheim

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, pictured here after the Orange's win over Virginia in the 2016 Elite Eight, told ESPN's Andy Katz that he has "the best team we've had in a long time."

(Stephen D. Cannerelli/The Post-Standard)

Syracuse, N.Y. — We interrupt football season for this eyebrow-raising thought on Syracuse University men's basketball.

In a video posted on ESPN.com, Andy Katz takes a quick look at whether Syracuse's run to the 2016 Final Four was a fluke.

While describing Syracuse's success last season, Katz transitioned to what is on the roster for this year, including the addition of transfers John Gillon from Colorado State and Nebraska guard Andrew White, calling the Orange national title contenders for the upcoming 2016-17 season.

As if that doesn't get your attention as a Syracuse basketball fan, Katz saved the best for last.

At the end of the video, he relayed a recent conversation he had with Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim.

You can watch the video below.

Let's take a closer look at Boeheim's label of the "best team we've had in a long time."

"We've Got Depth"

Boeheim's lineup is always the subject of fun debate among Syracuse fans, so I'll leave that for the comments section.

No matter what the starting lineup ends up being (which honestly never matters. It's who is in the game when it's close that bears watching), Boeheim's traditional rotation of about 8 players will be challenged this season.

The addition of Gillon and White at guard combined with sophomore Frank Howard and freshman Tyus Battle gives Syracuse plenty of options. Gillon is one of the fastest players on the team and can shoot it. The 6-foot-7 White is an all-around talent who fills in a badly needed shooting gap.

White averaged 16.6 points and 5.9 rebounds for Nebraska last year. He also made 41 percent of his 3-point shots. Gillon scored 13.2 points per game at Colorado State while logging 31.7 minutes per game.

In Katz's video, Boeheim was quoted as having "real point guards on the roster, not converted ones," which points to Frank Howard.

Battle, listed at 6-foot-6, will push for playing time. Boeheim has already been quoted in the offseason as saying he could make a "huge difference" for the Orange this season. Battle was rated the No. 35 player in the 2016 class by ESPN.com.

Tyler Lydon is considered to be one of the best returning players at his position in college basketball and is already generating serious NBA draft buzz. Lydon averaged 10.1 points and 6.3 rebounds, while serving as Syracuse's sixth man.

Senior forward Tyler Roberson brings back an aggressive rebounding prowess (8.5 per

game) and ability to score around the basket.

Now add Taurean Thompson, Dajuan Coleman, Paschal Chukwu and Matthew Moyer to the mix (more on them below).

Depth? Yes, this team has depth.

"We've Got Shooters"

This wasn't always the case.

Things looked pretty bare in that cupboard after the departures of Syracuse's top three scorers in Michael Gbinije, Malachi Richardson and Trevor Cooney.

That said, Tyler Lydon returns after a season where he shot 40.5 percent from 3-point range and 47.9 percent overall.

The addition of White was a game-changer with his 41 percent shooting from long-range.

Gillon made 33 percent of his 3-point attempts last season, which was a drop from the numbers he put up as a freshman at Arkansas-Little Rock and his redshirt sophomore year at Colorado State. In those two seasons, he made 39.4 percent from beyond the arc, shooting a combined 71-for-180.

If he can get back to around 40 percent this season, it'd be a huge bonus for Syracuse.

He's also a terrific free throw shooter. Last season, Gillon made 87.9 percent of his free throws, making 152 out of 173 attempts.

"We've Got Size"

Syracuse has size at all positions.

John Gillon is the shortest of the guard bunch at 6-foot, but is surrounded by 6-foot-7 (White), 6-foot-5 (Howard) and 6-foot-6 (Battle).

As a 6-foot-9 forward that can shoot like a guard, Tyler Lydon gives opposing coaches headaches in preparing for the Orange. The fear last season was that Lydon's need to build muscle would hurt him in ACC play. That fear never really materialized. Currently listed at 223 pounds with an offseason spent getting stronger, Lydon may erase that knock on him all together this season.

http://www.syracuse.com/axeman/index.ssf/2016/08/jim_boeheim_andrew_white_syracuse_basketball.html

Roberson, currently listed at 6-foot-8, 226 pounds, has never had a problem establishing a presence down low as an aggressive rebounder and a player that has flashed explosive offensive ability around the basket. He's arguably the biggest rim rocker on the roster.

He is joined by 6-foot-10 freshman Taurean Thompson, added to the Orange recruiting class of 2016 over the summer, 6-foot-9 senior Dajuan Coleman and 7-foot-2 sophomore transfer Paschal Chukwu.

Think they can eat up some space in the 2-3 zone defense?

6-foot-8 freshman Matthew Moyer is recovering from a foot injury, but provides even more depth down low when he gets healthy.

Size? Yes, this team has size.

It certainly does look like a team "that has everything" as Boeheim indicated.

Does it equal "the best team Syracuse has had in a long time?"

We all can't wait to find out.



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