The front line has graduated. Nichols, Watkins, and Roberts will be sorely missed. The backcourt is solid.The coach is a hall of famer. What does this add up to? A lot of ???????? for the Orange. Eric Devendorf will be the leader this year. Hopefully he can keep his temper under control.

Frontcourt - The Orange will be starting with only Paul Harris (8.6ppg, 7.1rpg) having experience up front. Harris can leap and is a great rebounder but needs work on his outside shot. The center will be Arinze Onuaku. Onuaku sat out last year with an injury. Behind him will be Devin McBride (0.8ppg, 0.3rpg) and Freshman Sean Williams. Donte Green is real talent and even though he is only a freshman may be a force inside. Rick Jackson and Kristof Ongenaet (0.0ppg, 0.0rpg) provide support. GRADE - C+

Backcourt - Eric Devendorf (14.8ppg, 2.7rpg) can take over a game. He has done it in the past. His problem has been that he tends to play out of control, taking bad shots and turning the ball over too much. Josh Wright (6.6ppg, 3.8apg) is an adequate pont guard who will be challenged by freshman Jonny Flynn. Flynn starred for the Under 19 World Champions. Andy Rautins tore up his knee this summer and probably will be redshirted. That leaves frosh Antonio Jardine to fill in. Either Jardine or Flynn will probably have to move into a starting slot. GRADE - B

Depth - If Rautins were available, Flynn and Green would probably be eased into the lineup. Now one of them or both will be forced to contribute immediately. Behind them there is not too much. GRADE - C+

Outlook - Boeheim didn’t make the Hall of Fame for nothing. With Rautins he had a squad that could make a run at a bye at MSG in March. Now it looks like the Cuse will be playing on Wednesday. Devendorf, Flynn, Green and Harris will be looked on to carry the load. The Orange just lost too much through graduation and injury. GRADE - C+

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