2007 Syracuse NCAA Basketball Picks & Predictions
Will the loss of three starters have Syracuse making a trip to the NIT again this year? Insiders don’t think so. Find out what this young team is capable of in Jimmy Boyd’s 2007 Syracuse Orange season preview and college basketball predictions.
This season’s Syracuse team looks a lot like the one that won it all in 2003 on paper. Then, it was Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara. Now, Jim Boeheim will try to do it again with Donte Greene, who comes from Baltimore just like Anthony, and Jonny Flynn, a pure point.
Syracuse should have been in the Big Dance last season. The Orange finished 24-11 overall and 10-6 in the Big East power conference which was good for a fifth place tie. Jim Boeheim and his returning players will take this snub personal, making sure they love no room for doubt to the selection committee this year.
The entire starting frontcourt is gone, but these guys were never the talents they were supposed to be, only leading ‘cuse to two NCAA Tourney victories in four years. Boeheim will replace those three starters with Greene, sophomore forward Arinze Onuaku, and sophomore Paul Harris. The 6’9’’ Greene will be a big matchup problem for opponents. His ability to step out on the floor and knock down threes will force teams to play him with a small or risk a big getting pulled away from the basket. Harris showed promise as a frosh averaging 8.6 points and 7.1 boards per game.
The backcourt is looking good with ‘cuse returning three guards who started at least 20 games last season. Flynn could step right in and take over point guard duties. If this is the case, that will allow Eric Devendorf to slide back over to the two position and Andy Rautins will be a sixth man spark off the bench.
As much as we would like to believe that this Syracuse team could be another Cinderella story like the 2003 team, it’s just not going to happen. Melo was bigger, stronger, and a better rebounder than Greene is at this stage-a rare, once in a lifetime college prospect. But Syracuse will make the Tourney and they will win their first round game. But that’s where we see it ending as this much inexperience rarely is able to do more.
Jimmy Boyd’s Big East college basketball picks will frustrate your man all season long. Jimmy knows this 16-team power conference inside and out and he will give you a steady dose of Big East NCAA basketball betting this year. For the best picks to beat the college basketball odds money can buy, try Jimmy Boyd on for size.
The NCAA basketball picks from our handicappers will help you win!
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