Analyzing Syracuse Ahead of Season Opener

The Tennessee Volunteers will face a young, intriguing Syracuse Orange team to go for second straight MTE title.

While we knew the field for the 2023 Maui Invitational, we officially got the bracket Monday evening. Tennessee, a veteran team that could start three 5th year players, will face off against Syracuse in the first round of the Maui Invitational.

Sometimes in sports, coaches have expiration dates. Jim Boeheim did a lot of great things at Syracuse. He won a lot of basketball games. His style of defense probably needed a change, though. Syracuse had played 2-3 zone for so long, and now, with Red Autry taking the helm, it's an opportunity for Syracuse to make some changes. The Orange won't be exclusively playing zone this year or, from what it sounds like, primarily playing zone. They could end up being a dangerous team, though, with new leadership and development. There's an outside chance that Judah Mintz and J.J. Starling are one of the top backcourts in the country. The two guards were extremely high recruits coming out of high school, and both are expected to take a sizable jump from freshmen to sophomores.

Tennessee G Jahmai Mashack during the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament in New York City, New York, on March 23, 2023. (Photo by Robert Deutsch of USA Today Sports)

Along with the two guards, Syracuse has some other promising younger players like Justin Taylor, Quadir Copeland, Maliq Brown, and Chris Bell. All of them got a chance at the end of last season to prove themselves, and all showed flashes of brilliance despite the Orange not having a good year. Benny Williams could also be a sleeper for all-conference in the ACC. This year's Maui Invitational is loaded, and Tennessee will have to beat some tough teams to capture a championship. Regardless of a win or loss in-game, the Vols will be playing either Purdue or Gonzaga in game two. On the other side of the bracket are Kansas, Marquette, UCLA, and the host, Chaminade. Tennessee could get three quad-one games in Maui, depending on how the season unfolds.

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