Before the season, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim veered from form and praised his team and its depth.After the Orange started the year inside the top 20 and posted three commanding victories, Boeheim looked like a sage. Three losses in four games have sent the Orange (5-3) a step or two backward, befuddled by a sudden inability to score.Since a commanding 101-59 win over South Carolina State, Syracuse has hit a wall. The Orange struggled to put up points in losses to unbeaten South Carolina, now ranked 19th, No. 17 Wisconsin, and UConn, and has fallen out of the national rankings .The only positive blip in the past four games was a 77-71 win over North Florida, and that had plenty of negatives -- the Orange nearly blew a 24-point lead in the final 12 minutes.The offense is not good enough. Its not good enough to really win, Boeheim said. Weve got to get better there. If we dont, were going to struggle every game.Against UConn on Monday night, Syracuse shot 25.9 percent (14 of 54) and 23.1 percent (6 of 26) from beyond the arc. The Orange also missed eight of 24 free throws and yet still had a chance to win after Andrew White III hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 50 with just under 10 seconds left in regulation.The game slipped away when a foul was called against Syracuse with 2.2 seconds to go and Christian Vital sank two free throws for the Huskies.It was a tough loss, but I think well bounce back, said Dajuan Coleman, who had 10 points and a career-high 16 rebounds for the Orange. We were in it the whole game. We just couldnt pull it off.White, a transfer from Nebraska, leads the team in scoring at 16.6 points per game, the only player averaging in double figures. He had 14 points against UConn, but was 4 of 15 from the field and only 3 of 11 from beyond the arc.Ive got to do better to make sure I deliver all the time, White said. Ive just got to do what I can. I know the rest of my teammates will ... score better with time. In the meantime, Ive got to hold the fort down for this team. Thats something Im still learning.As a freshman last season, forward Tyler Lydon emerged as a bona fide star, punctuating a solid season with a gritty performance in the Oranges surprising run to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. Lydon had 14 points and seven rebounds in each of the first two tournament games, twice chipped in with six blocks, and had 11 points, six rebounds and five blocks in an Elite Eight win over Virginia.In the offseason, Lydon added 20 pounds of muscle, which promised to make him a more imposing figure this year. He has yet to hit his stride on a team thats searching for chemistry. Lydon has taken just 65 shots, just over eight a game, and is shooting about the same from all over the floor -- 38.5 percent inside the arc and 37.5 percent outside.Hes got to look to shoot the ball, Boeheim said. Id like him to shoot 17 shots, and if he only makes two or three of them, thats fine.Senior Tyler Roberson also has struggled. One of the top offensive rebounders in the country, hes been parked on the bench a lot, averaging 19 minutes and five rebounds. Last year he averaged nearly nine rebounds and 31 minutes.It took until the postseason for last years team to coalesce into a threat, and with five newcomers on the roster this season its apparently going to take more time for this team to jell.I think its mostly because were a new team, freshman guard Tyus Battle said. Weve just got to hit the shots when we get them.Syracuse hosts Boston University (4-5) on Saturday at noon.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 . San Francisco Giants Jerseys . 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Duane Kuiper Jersey . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. WASHINGTON -- All-Star guard John Wall will only participate in bits and pieces of Washington Wizards training camp as he rebounds from offseason knee surgery.Coach Scott Brooks said there is no official timeline for Wall to be ready for game action. Brooks doesnt know if Wall will play in any of seven preseason games before the Wizards open the regular season Oct. 27 at Atlanta.Wall said hes feeling great but echoed Brooks mantra that he wont hurry back too soon and risk re-injuring anything.Im in no rush, Wall said Monday at media day. Im just listening to what the doctors and our training staff say. Im out here working out, going 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 and just taking my time. Im feeling better. Im losing weight and getting in better shape.Walls goal was to be in the best shape of his career going into his seventh NBA season. In May, the 26-year-old had a procedure on the patella tendon in his left knee and an arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, so that plan was altered so he can get healthy.When training camp opens Tuesday in Richmond, Virginia, Wall will have his workload increased as long as he continues to show improvement.I think hes progressing well, Brooks said. I dont want to put any time on it. But I know that hes making strides and were excited about it. Obviously hes one of the best point guards in this league. You want all your players healthy, and when that time comes well put him on (the court) and have him do everything.Wall averaged a career high 19.9 points, 10.2 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals a game last season, making his third consecutive all-star game. Knee problems limited him near the end of the regular season, and Washington missed the playoffs after making it the two previous years.The 2010 No. 1 pick out of Kentucky wants to sharpen his 3-point shooting and shooting off the dribble this season. He said hes now able to jump off both legs and finish at the rim, which should allow him to better mix his spot-up and driving threats to keep opposing defenses honest.ddddddddddddWall said getting back to his old, elite self could take time, and the Wizards have an early season contingency plan in free agent addition Trey Burke. Brooks said he doesnt know what will happen as far as Burkes playing time and role if Wall isnt ready to start the season, calling it hypothetical.Whats real is that Wall wants himself and Bradley Beal to form one of the best backcourts in the league. Beal is ready to do his part after signing a $128 million, five-year contract over the summer, and he isnt worried about Wall getting back to 100 percent.Hes dealt with injuries before, so hes always a positive believer in coming back stronger, Beal said. He always has a chip on his shoulder no matter if hes healthy or not. ... He looks good from what I see. Hes just going to continue to get better, continue to stay healthy and were going to need him.Brooks wouldnt say whether hed put Wall on any kind of minutes restriction, adding that hell never put a player on the court who is injured. The entire team is in wait-and-see mode on Wall, who wants to play the entire season but said hell monitor his body and listen to medical personnel about how to manage his knees.Wall wants his next step to be playing basketball -- 5-on-5 -- when it matters. But playing basketball for a long time is his top priority.This is more important for my future, down the road for my career and not just rushing my way back and then probably dont know how much time I would have left to play in my career, Wall said. Just taking my time and making sure everythings feeling right. Its a long season. ' ' '