Syracuse learns from exhibition mishaps heading into regular season opener

Questions remain after Orange's exhibition struggles

What Syracuse learned from its two exhibition contests ahead of Monday's opener against Le Moyne

After a pair of exhibition games, the Syracuse Orange still have some questions to answer before their regular season opener on Monday against Le Moyne.

The Orange struggled in both of their exhibition contests, losing to Division II Le Moyne by 10 points and then falling to Division I Colgate by 20 points.

While the exhibition games don't count towards Syracuse's record, they did provide a glimpse into some of the challenges the Orange will face this season.

Free throw shooting, turnovers remain concerns

One of the biggest concerns for Syracuse is its free throw shooting. The Orange shot just 57.1% from the free throw line in their two exhibition games, which is well below the national average of 68.9%.

Syracuse also struggled with turnovers, committing 15 turnovers in each of their two exhibition games. The Orange will need to clean up their ball handling if they want to be successful this season.

Bright spots for Syracuse

Despite the struggles, there were some bright spots for Syracuse in their exhibition games. The Orange showed a lot of toughness and determination in their loss to Colgate, and they also got some good production from their bench.

Freshman guard Judah Mintz led the Orange in scoring in both exhibition games, and he showed a lot of potential. Mintz is a quick and athletic guard who can score in a variety of ways.

What Syracuse needs to improve before the regular season

Syracuse has a lot of work to do before the regular season starts. The Orange need to improve their free throw shooting, cut down on turnovers, and get more consistent on the defensive end.

If Syracuse can make those improvements, they have the potential to be a successful team this season. The Orange have a lot of talent, and they are well-coached by Jim Boeheim.

Conclusion

The Syracuse Orange learned a lot in their two exhibition games leading up to Monday's opener against Le Moyne. The Orange struggled in both games, but they also showed some bright spots. If Syracuse can improve on their free throw shooting, cut down on turnovers, and get more consistent on the defensive end, they have the potential to be a successful team this season.