Kaleb Joseph has some tough shoes to fill.
Last season’s freshman point guard Tyler Ennis spent just one year under Jim Boeheim, but it was a memorable year for the current Phoenix Sun. Ennis took control of a young and inexperienced duo of guards for the Orange, and led the team to its best start in program history.
Ennis’ departure left a big hole for the Orange, and now it is up to a new duo of Michael Gbinije and Joseph to step up.
For Joseph, getting the ball early on in exhibition games and early season non-conference games is what he needs. It is one of the major things that helped Ennis be the elite, near Wooden Award player he was.Syracuse has had a strong thread of point guards, dating back to Scoop Jardine and Michael Carter-Williams.
Gbinije has the experience over Joseph, but perhaps Joseph has more of the true point guard in him, something that SU has missed over the years, other than Ennis. Early court time against lesser opponents is what Joseph and Gbinije need because they need to run the game early, while getting to know the style of play of their teammates.
Early on last season, one of the things Ennis was working on was learning the style so he could be more effective passing the ball. Obviously it worked Рhe was a first round pick and the star of the Orange before falling to Dayton in the NCAA Tournament. 
Luckily for Joseph, he has Gbinije. Although both are slightly inexperienced, Gbinije, and even Trevor Cooney, can help make Joseph more comfortable in his new surroundings on the court. There is much to learn in this system, and learning early when it does not matter as much could be the key to success in the long run, especially in a high-tension atmosphere like Syracuse, where every move on the court is making the major network highlights.
Syracuse hits the floor on Sunday against Carlton for its first exhibition game of the new season.
Posted:  Austin Pollack
