If there is ever a year for the Syracuse men’s basketball team to have a wait-till-next-year mentality, (italics) next year (italics) could be it.

The Orangemen (23-8) just wrapped up a season in which they made the Sweet 16 despite losing their starting point guard (Billy Edelin) and dropping four of five games. The effort led head coach Jim Boeheim to say he was just as impressed with this past year’s team as he was with his national championship squad. SU’s 80-71 loss to Alabama Thursday may have put its 2004 basketball season to rest, but it gave the Syracuse players and fans a chance to look forward to the 2005 year.

Syracuse could potentially return all five starters, depending on whether forward Hakim Warrick departs for the NBA. Based upon class standing, SU would lose only five seniors from this year’s team, four of which are walk-ons.

Center Jeremy McNeil is the only contributing player SU stands to lose. He routinely came off the bench in his junior and senior seasons, and he only averaged 13 minutes this past year.

It’s still unknown whether Edelin will rejoin the team after missing SU’s last 12 games, but if he and the rest of the Orangemen return, Syracuse would have to be considered a preseason top 10 team and a Final Four contender.

‘Coach Boeheim does a fabulous job,’ Providence assistant coach Steve DeMeo said. ‘Once again, they’ll be an elite team in the country. I wouldn’t put it past them to be one of the favorites next season.’

Next season, Syracuse could potentially go nine deep, making it one of the deepest and most experienced teams in the country. Here’s a rundown of SU’s potential depth chart for 2004-05.

n Point guard – Edelin or incoming freshman Josh Wright – It’s believed that if Edelin leaves, Wright has the poise to take over the Orangemen from the start of the season. The move would allow Gerry McNamara, who replaced Edelin this year, to move to his more natural shooting guard spot.

n Shooting guard – McNamara/Demetris Nichols – This position would allow McNamara to do what he does best, which is come off screens for open shots. It will also take the pressure off his ball-handling, which put him in trouble at some times this year. Nichols, who started 15 games this season, will provide experience in coming off the bench.

n Small forward – Josh Pace – He’s got the toughest shot on Syracuse to defend. By his senior year, is there any chance that the Big East will learn to stop him? Nah, probably not. His numbers will continue to increase, as they’ve done each of his previous seasons. Plus, he’ll remain SU’s best defender.

n Power forward – Warrick, Terrence Roberts/Matt Gorman/Dayshawn Wright – The 4-spot will either be the biggest unknown for Syracuse or the biggest strength. Unfortunately for the Orangemen, they won’t know until May 10 (the deadline for declaring for the NBA draft) who will fill that position. If it’s Warrick, SU could have the next Wooden Award winner. But Syracuse could try any one of the rising sophomores, depending how they progress. That includes Gorman, who’s been used sparingly, or freshman Dayshawn Wright, if he wins the job based on preseason workouts.

n Center – Craig Forth/Darryl Watkins – Forth has started every game of his career, and he won’t give that spot up next season. He’s a natural leader who will be able to tame the young but experienced Orangemen.

n Bench – Louie McCroskey/Roberts/Watkins/Nichols/Dayshawn Wright – The fact that any one of the bench players may earn a starting spot speaks well to the depth of Syracuse. The rising sophomores, who looked lost at times this season, should return next fall more mature and game ready. And Wright, who is only 6 feet 5 inches, is already earning a reputation as being a hard-nosed rebounder.

Syracuse’s biggest virtue is experience. Of the top 10 scorers from this past season, nine could potentially return.

‘Experience in college basketball is one of the most important things,’ DeMeo said. ‘The more veterans you have on the team, better chance you have to be an elite team. Any team that brings back returning players has a better chance in the league, especially one as strong as the Big East.’

Published on March 30, 2004 at 12:00 pm