Not surprising — especially given SU’s depth this year.
Syracuse Orange freshman forward Matthew Moyer will redshirt this season, SU announced in a release today.
Matt Moyer has decided to redshirt this season due to "preseason time missed with an injury," according to Coach Boeheim.
— Syracuse Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) November 8, 2016
Moyer, one of three well-touted recruits for the class of 2016, injured his foot over the summer, but did seem optimistic on a timeline for his return back in October. Given the depth the Orange possess on this year’s roster, however, it seems Jim Boeheim would prefer to just let him take the full year to recover.
As TNIAAM men’s basketball beat writer Andrew Godnick wrote yesterday, depth will be Syracuse’s strongest asset for the 2016-17 season. Tyler Roberson, Tyler Lydon and Taurean Thompson are all likely to receive more minutes at the three- or four-spot than Moyer would this year, and the team has an extra body there too in Doyin Akintobi-Adeyeye. Syracuse’s rotation is easily nine-deep without Moyer too, which would’ve limited his opportunities in year one.
With a year to rest up his foot, too, he may come back a whole lot stronger for the Orange as 2017-18 becomes a bit of a roster reset. Roberson and Dajuan Coleman graduate, as do grad transfers John Gillon and Andrew White III. Lydon and maybe freshman Tyus Battle could also find themselves NBA-bound. Having a player like Moyer with an extra year of eligibility could be a greater asset going forward as the team quickly reforms its lineup in the wake of those potential changes.
Good luck with the rest of your recover, Matthew! Looking forward to seeing you back on the court next fall.
