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Message: [QUOTE="RF2044, post: 1912397, member: 40"] With all of the discussion in the Randolph thread about our recruiting class for 2017, I thought it would be interesting to do a breakdown of what next year's squad looks like, factoring in a couple of different scenarios. What we already know: [LIST] [*]Syracuse only has 10 players on the roster for the upcoming season [*]4 of those players are seniors [*]We can have up to 11 scholarship players next year [17-18 season] [/LIST] [INDENT][INDENT][B][U][COLOR=rgb(255, 128, 0)]Scenario 1: Attrition comes from departing seniors only[/COLOR][/U][/B] Under scenario 1, the only departures from the team come from graduating seniors. In this case--Coleman, Roberson, Gillon, and White. [B][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 255)]Returning # of players:[/COLOR][/B] 6 [COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 255)][B]Roster: [/B][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 0)]Howard, Battle, Lydon, Thompson, Moyer, Chukwu[/COLOR][/COLOR] [B][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 255)]# of open scholarships for class of 2017:[/COLOR][/B] 5 [B][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 255)]Logistics / Issues:[/COLOR][/B] [LIST] [*]Frontcourt heavy [*]Limited returning backcourt depth [*]Incoming recruiting class might not be counted upon to start immediately [*]Frontcourt has lots of size / versatility [*]Returning go-to scorers in Lydon / Battle [/LIST] [B][U][COLOR=rgb(255, 128, 0)]Scenario 2: +1[/COLOR][/U][/B] Under scenario 2, not only does Coach Boeheim have to replace the graduating seniors, but also one of Tyler Lydon and / or Tyus Battle opting to go pro. [B][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 255)]Returning # of players:[/COLOR][/B] 5 [COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 255)][B]Roster: [/B][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 0)]Howard, Thompson, Moyer, Chukwu, Battle OR Lydon[/COLOR][/COLOR] [B][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 255)]# of open scholarships for class of 2017:[/COLOR][/B] 6 [B][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 255)]Logistics / Issues:[/COLOR][/B] [LIST] [*]Extremely limited returning backcourt depth, especially if Battle is the early entrant [*]Larger incoming recruiting class to integrate [*]Returning depth at the power positions [*]Scoring could be an issue, as only one of Lydon / Battle return, and no other returnees are big scorers [/LIST] [B][U][COLOR=rgb(255, 128, 0)]Scenario 3: +2[/COLOR][/U][/B] Worst case scenario for next year's team: Coach Boeheim has to replace the 4 graduating seniors PLUS Tyler Lydon and Tyus Battle, both of whom elect to go pro next offseason. [B][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 255)]Returning players:[/COLOR][/B] 4 [B][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 255)]Roster:[/COLOR][/B] [COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 0)]Howard, Thompson, Moyer, Chukwu[/COLOR] [B][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 255)]# of open scholarships for class of 2017:[/COLOR][/B] 7 [B][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 255)]Logistics / Issues:[/COLOR][/B] [LIST] [*]Extremely limited returning backcourt depth [only Howard returns] [*]No viable wings amongst returnees [*]Unbelievably large incoming recruiting class [*]Several members of recruiting class will have to step into contributing roles [*]Returning depth at the power positions is good [*]Scoring would be a major question mark heading into 17-18 season [/LIST][/INDENT][/INDENT] [B][COLOR=rgb(255, 128, 0)]Most likely scenarios:[/COLOR][/B] #2 or #3 Just a guess, but it seems likely that with a big season [and lots of positive attribution, if Syracuse has the big year many are predicting], at least one of Lydon / Battle will elect to declare hardship and enter the NBA draft. If we make the Final Four, I'd expect BOTH to make the jump. The only thing that might prevent this from happening are: [LIST] [*]If Lydon / Battle really enjoy the collegiate experience, and want to come back / put off earning $$$ [*]If Battle underachieves, struggles, and / or shows some glaring limitation in his game that he'd have to work on [*]Injury to either player [/LIST] If one or both of those underclassmen leave, we're looking at having to add an exorbitantly large class just to get back to having 10 scholarship players on the roster next year. Several of those incoming players would have to contribute for the team to flourish and get back to the NCAA tournament. Classes of 6 or 7 players are pretty rare; if this is what we're looking at for the class of 2017, I'd expect the coaching staff to bring in 4-5 high school players [including a prospect or two with upside, who projects as a good system fit but also a 4-year program guy], as well as another 5th-year transfer or two who could contribute immediately and plug a roster hole a la Andrew White / John Gillon. No matter what rock the staff overturns to reel them in, expect the class of 2017 to be guard / wing heavy, but also to add a big [or two] to bolster returning depth. [B] [COLOR=rgb(255, 128, 0)] What 's Uncertain Today:[/COLOR][/B] [LIST] [*]How NBA ready is Battle? [*]How well will Battle shoot this year? [*]Will Moyer eventually project as a 3 or a 4? [*]Do we get "credit" with the NCAA for being down the 1 scholarship we could have used for 2016-2017 season? [*]What happens if we lose out on Green and / or Lonnie Walker? [*]Is Jordan Tucker going to reemerge as a priority now that Randolph is off the table? [/LIST] [/QUOTE]

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