Syracuse Orange
Overall Rank: #31
Conference Rank: #5 ACC
Syracuse continued its rise up the ranks of the women’s college basketball scene by breaking into the Top 20 for the first time in program history. And then they were able to get a win over number nine seed Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament. The win over the Huskers was the highest seed that the Orange had defeated in program history while playing in the NCAA Tournament.
2014-15 Record: 22-10, 11-5
2014-15 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Quentin Hillsman
Coach Record: 189-108 at Syracuse, 189-108 overall
Strengths:
Experience is going to be a significant strength for Syracuse during the 2015-16 season. All five projected starters are either a junior or senior, which is going to be a plus in the difficult Atlantic Coast Conference. In the backcourt, Alexis Peterson will lead the way as she averaged 16.2 points per game and was outstanding defensively. She was named to the all-ACC Defensive team last season. Junior Brianna Butler is back as well for the Orange and Butler averaged 13.3 points per game and is really going to help the offensive attack if she can get more consistent in shooting the basketball. Down in the post, Bria Day is a relentless force when it comes to rebounding the basketball. She averaged 10.4 rebounds per game last season and chipped in nicely on offense with nearly ten points per game.
Weaknesses:
For Syracuse to really take the next step forward they are going to need to get more consistent in regards to shooting the basketball. The Orange shot just under 37 percent from the floor and barely over 28 percent from behind the three point line. If Syracuse can even get to below average and shoot around 32-33 percent from beyond the arc, that will make a huge difference for them offensively.
Final Projection:
Syracuse will find out right away how good they are when they battle Tennessee on November 20th in Knoxville against a Volunteers team that is loaded with talent. They will need their experienced backcourt duo of Peterson and Butler to take care of the basketball and keep the game close and try and steal it in the second half. A neutral site game against Washington in Las Vegas a week later will be a battle of two pretty evenly matched teams. Maryland and Arizona State also highlight the non-conference schedule. The conference schedule opens at home against Duke on January 3rd in the Carrier Dome and a win against the Blue Devils will be a great tone setter for the rest of the ACC schedule. The other key games of the conference schedule will be a two game stretch that involves a trip to Notre Dame and a visit from Louisville. If the Orange can split these two games that will go a long way toward securing themselves a spot in the top tier of the conference once again this season. Overall, this experienced Syracuse team, if they stay healthy, will be back in the NCAA Tournament without too much trouble.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting Five:
Alexis Peterson, Junior, Guard, 16.2 points per game
Briana Butler, Senior, Guard, 13.3 points per game
Cornelia Fondren, Senior, Guard, 8.0 points per game
Isabella Slim, Junior, Forward, 2.0 points per games
Bria Day, Junior, Center, 9.4 points per game
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 69.5 (68th in nation, 7th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 61.8 (118, 8)
Field-Goal Percentage: 36.8 (283, 14)
Field-Goal Defense: 38.8 (137, 8)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.4 (33, 2)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 28.5 (267, 14)
Free-Throw Percentage: 66.8 (241, 12)
Rebound Margin: 0.6 (163, 8)
Assists Per Game: 12.5 (181, 9)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.0 (7, 1)
Madness 2016 WNBA Draft Rankings:
#10 Brittney Sykes
Madness 2015 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#66 Davida Dale
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