Syracuse Orange
Overall Rank: #26
Conference Rank: #5 ACC
Syracuse had a very good 2016-2017 campaign, going 11-5 in ACC play and reaching the NCAA Tournament. Once there, the Orange beat Iowa State before running into Connecticut in the second round. In order to reach the tournament again, the Orange will have to replace four starters. The only one back is Gabby Cooper, who averaged 9.3 points per game as a freshman. She is mostly a shooter and will need to diversify her offensive game in order to develop into a more consistent scorer.
2016-17 Record: 22-11, 11-5
2016-17 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Quentin Hillsman
Coach Record: 241-127 at Syracuse, 241-127 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Alexis Peterson, Guard, 23.4 ppg
Brittney Sykes, Guard, 19.2 ppg
Bria Day, Center, 12.9 ppg
Isabella Slim, Forward, 4.6 ppg
Julia Chandler, Forward, 2.7 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Gabby Cooper, Sophomore, Guard, 9.3 ppg
Disiree Elmore, Sophomore, Guard, 2.3 ppg
Abby Grant, Junior, Guard, 1.7 ppg
Chelayne Bailey, Sophomore, Guard, 0.2 ppg
Key New Players
Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi, Freshman, Forward
Miranda Drummond, Junior, Forward, Transfer, St. Bonaventure
Amaya Finklea-Guity, Freshman, Center
Marie-Paule Foppossi, Freshman, Forward
Raven Fox, Junior, Guard, Transfer, JC
Kiara Lewis, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer, Ohio State not eligible
Tiana Mangakahia, Sophomore, Guard, Transfer, JC
Jasmine Nwajei, Senior, Guard, Transfer, Wagner
Nikki Oppenheimer, Freshman, Guard
Digna Strautmane, Freshman, Forward
Isis Young, Junior, Guard, Transfer, Florida
Projection:
Disiree Elmore and Abby Grant will bring some experience to the backcourt, but the large group of newcomers will have to play a big role too. In all, Syracuse brings in three Division I transfers, two junior college transfers and five freshmen. Forward Miranda Drummond has the most Division I experience. She averaged 12.3 points and 4.4 rebounds as a sophomore two years at St. Bonaventure. Jasmine Nwajei led the country in scoring two years ago, averaging 28.7 points per game at Wagner. The competition will get tougher, but Nwajei will continue to do plenty of scoring. The incoming freshmen may not take the ACC by storm right away, but they do provide Coach Quentin Hillsman with plenty of decent options.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 78.6 (15th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 67.4 (243, 13)
Field-Goal Percentage: 39.9 (167, 13)
Field-Goal Defense: 43.4 (325, 15)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 9.1 (8, 1)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 31.0 (187, 11)
Free-Throw Percentage: 75.1 (37, 2)
Rebound Margin: 2.7 (102, 9)
Assists Per Game: 14.9 (75, 7)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.6 (49, 4)
Madness 2017 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#87 Amaya Finklea-Guity
#89 Digna Strautmane
#99 Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi
