SYRACUSE - Jim Boeheim hopes he has an answer for Syracuse's fatigue problems from a year ago.

And he just may have found it at the Olympics.

“One thing I learned this summer was that you can be very productive when you know you're going to play 20 minutes,” said Boeheim, who was an assistant coach for the U.S. men's basketball team.

“You can go as hard as you can every minute. You can't necessarily go that hard for 30 minutes.”

Of course, Boeheim didn't have the option to rest his Orange players last season.

With starters Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins out with injuries, the hall of fame coach had no choice but to play his starters extended minutes, even if their play deteriorated late in games.

But this season, Boeheim expects to use an eight- or nine-man rotation, which will allow him more flexibility in terms of resting his key players.

“We need to cut back the minutes some guys are playing so we can be stronger, tougher and more physical at the end of games or when we play two or three games in a week,” Boeheim said at the team's media day, Thursday.

Along with a returning Devendorf and Rautins, Syracuse's rotation should include Jonny Flynn, Arinze Onuaku, Paul Harris, Kristof Onegnaet and Rick Jackson - all of whom saw extended minutes last season.

Freshmen Mookie Jones and Kris Joseph are also expected to see significant court time.

With this amount of depth, Boeheim won't hesitate to cut minutes even from his most productive players. Boeheim points to the Olympic team as an example of how this approach can be successful.

“Dwyane Wade averaged 17 points a game and played 19 minutes (a game),” he said.

“If he had played 30 (minutes), he probably would've averaged the same number. He knew this was what the minutes were going to be and he was going to take advantage of it. I think that's what will happen with this team. The guys will get more than enough time to do what they need to do, but they won't have to be out there for 35 minutes like they were last year.”

Along with depth, the team's maturity level was a hot topic at media day.

For a majority of the 2007-08 season, Syracuse's starting five included two true freshman, a sophomore, a junior coming off a redshirt season and a junior college transfer.

Despite the superb play of Flynn and the one-and-done Donte Greene, there was a severe lack in veteran leadership.

That's not an excuse any more.

“They have to step up as a group, not one or two, all of them,” Boeheim said. “They have to be different players this year. I don't think anyone was mature enough last year to step up and say, “This is what we have to do.' I don't really fault anyone for that, but I think you need to have a veteran player that's been there.”

Flynn, who should be one of the top points guards in the Big East, if not the country, openly accepts the responsibility of being a leader on this team.

“One thing I kick myself for not doing more of last year is being a better leader,” said the Niagara Falls native.

“The point guard is primarily going to be the leader on the court and I feel like I didn't step up in that role enough. This year, you can be looking forward to me being a leader on this team.”

The biggest concerns entering the season are the team's lack of depth in the post - Onuaku is the only proven center - and the team's play at the defensive end.

The Orange's 2-3 zone was picked apart at times last year. Syracuse may be gushing over the returns of Devendorf and Rautins, but neither is a defensive specialist.

The Orange may have a prolific offense, but defensive improvement is a main focus.

“I think when it comes to our team, from one to five everybody can score, so I think it's going to have to be on the defensive end,” Onuaku said.

“Defensive rebounds could take us a long way. We're a little bit smaller this year so everyone is going to have to go to the boards. Defense-wise, if we play great defense we can get out and run because we're small and athletic.”

The itch is also there to get back to the NCAA Tournament. The Orange haven't earned a bid in two seasons, and many of the older players are getting restless.

“I don't even know what to say; I'm so motivated just to not be in that caliber anymore,” Harris said. “We feel like we didn't make (the tournament), a lot of people feel we got robbed. But things happen for a reason and we know not to leave our destiny in other people's hands.”

As for Boeheim, he never sets preseason goals, but a trip back to the NCAA Tournament is clearly on his mind.

“It's important for us to have a great year,” he said, “and that's the only way you can have a great year.”

NOTES: Sophomore Antonio “Scoop” Jardine will redshirt the season. Jardine suffered a stress fracture in his leg last winter that hasn't properly healed.

While Rautins is back to 100 percent physically, Devendorf is still a few weeks away. Boeheim said he expects Devendorf to be at game speed in two or three weeks.

Typically, athletes fully heal from ACL surgery in nine to 12 months. Devendorf suffered the injury Dec. 15 against East Tennessee State.