With Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf lighting up the opposition from the outside, it’s no surprise that SU head coach Jim Boeheim called last year’s squad ‘offensively minded on the perimeter.’ This season, with those two players gone, Boeheim sees a different type of game plan for the Orange.

‘I think this year we’ll make more inside plays than we’ve made in the past,’ Boeheim said. ‘I think we’ll still be able to score on the perimeter, but I think we’ll be more focused on getting the ball to the inside.’

Syracuse’s frontcourt will be the squad’s strength this year and a key component in determining how far the team goes. The Orange returns two of the three frontcourt starters from last year in Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku, in addition to replacing departed forward Paul Harris with Iowa State transfer Wesley Johnson.

Syracuse will look to display that strength as it hosts LeMoyne in its final exhibition game of the season tonight at 7 p.m inside the Carrier Dome.

‘We have a good front court; guys will be hearing about us and teams will be worrying about us and that is all we want to happen,’ Jackson said. ‘We want to make our presence felt and that will happen this year.’

The inside game starts with Onuaku. The fifth-year senior underwent knee surgery for chronic tendonitis during the off season, and a lot will be resting on the strength of those knees. Onuaku averaged 10.3 points per game and 7.3 rebounds last year, and will be counted on to deliver even better numbers this year.

With no other member of the squad embracing the role as a center, Onuaku’s ability to stay healthy could prove to be critical. If his knees start acting up again and he has to miss time, the Orange would be forced to go to a smaller lineup, and rely on the bench more.

Boeheim is encouraged with what he’s seen from his big man.

‘I think Arinze looks solid,’ Boeheim said after Syracuse’s 97-54 win in its exhibition opener against Cal State-Los Angeles. ‘But he just needs to get some games. He just hasn’t played enough.’

Starting alongside Onuaku in the frontcourt is Jackson. The junior came into his own last year, averaging 22.1 minutes and 8.3 points last year. At times, he and Onuaku were unstoppable under the glass and helped Syracuse advance to its first Sweet 16 appearance since 2004. He will be counted upon to improve on his numbers more this season as a full-time starter from game one (Jackson came off the bench in10 games last season).

Boeheim said at media day that Jackson looks good and has a good inside game and he proved that last year he can score when the ball is given to him down low. He’s expecting a good year out of the Philly native.

Johnson had nothing but good things to say about Jackson at media day.

‘As far as A.O. and Rick down there,’ Johnson said. ‘Rick has blossomed a lot so I think he’s going to help us a lot.’

Johnson is the last piece to what should be the starting unit coming Nov. 9 against Albany. The highly-touted transfer from Iowa State has coaches and players raving about what he will bring to the Orange this season. He showed glimpses in the exhibition win with his long wingspan leading to several dunks and steals.

With his wingspan, he should help the defense become longer in the 2-3 zone and thus more effective. While Paul Harris last year tried to be a perimeter player, Johnson has the skill set to shoot effectively beyond the arc and be a midrange shooting threat as well.

‘He is an experienced guy, he is athletic and he can shoot the ball,’ Onuaku said. ‘He will be in the back of the zone to help rebound. He is a highlight type of guy – very athletic and very smart.’

The bench will include redshirt freshman Mookie Jones, the No. 35 prospect in the country two years ago according to Rivals.com, sophomore Kris Joseph, and newcomers DaShonte Riley and James Southerland. Judging from the exhibition opener, it seems that Jones and Joseph will get the first calls off the bench, and Southerland the leading newcomer.

With such talent, there’s no reason this team can’t let its frontcourt win ball games this year. And that’s why the bar has been set high for the big men.

‘I expect myself to produce more, then we have Wes Johnson who will be getting starter minutes and Scoop (Jardine) or Brandon (Triche) will end up running the show,’ Onuaku said. ‘It will be good. We’re going to have a nice balance out there, probably one of the bigger lineups in the country with me, Rick (Jackson) and Wes in the back and we’re going to be long with our 2-3 zone.’

mrehalt@syr.edu

Published on November 2, 2009 at 12:00 pm