The Syracuse zone will look different this season compared to year's past.
The zone defense is predicated on length, footwork, rotation and communication. In year's past, Syracuse has had all of that, and it has led to one of the best defense's in college basketball. It is especially effective when there is a shot blocker in the middle of the zone to clean up mistakes.
In recent years, Syracuse has had Rakeem Christmas, Baye Keita, Fab Melo and others. The 2015-16 version lacks that type of elite shot blocker, which will impact the Orange zone.