The lack of offense from Syracuse’s big men was a theme throughout most of last season, but the deficiency was at its worst against Louisville on March 2.

Rakeem Christmas, DaJuan Coleman and Baye Moussa Keita combined for two points. Each attempted one field goal, and Christmas was the only one to convert his. On the other end of the court, Louisville big man Gorgui Dieng dominated the inside with 11 points and 14 rebounds, powering the Cardinals to a five-point victory in a low-scoring Carrier Dome battle.

Syracuse’s big men know how to anchor the middle of head coach Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 zone. They know how to crash the boards and they know how to grab rebounds. But if they can assert themselves in SU’s offense, it would serve as a much-needed boost to the rest of the team as it transitions into the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“I think there’s going to be some opportunities there for them to score and I think we’ll have good balance,” Boeheim said, “because I think we have guys that can shoot and score at the forward and guard positions.”

The Orange lost three of its top four scorers from last season, who averaged a combined 38.8 points per game — slightly less than three times the offensive production the big men mustered.

In their absences, much of the weight of putting the ball in the basket will be on the shoulders of SU senior C.J. Fair, the ACC Preseason Player of the Year.

He’s confident that the big men can help pick up some of that slack.

“Last year, the inside wasn’t really our strong suit, but I think this year, it’s going to be much stronger,” Fair said. “You can tell they worked on their game a lot and improved this year. They’re not scared to miss a shot.”

Last year, Syracuse’s guards and small forwards accounted for 83.3 percent of SU’s scoring output. Christmas, Coleman and Keita collectively averaged just more than 13 points per game.

“I think this year, we definitely came back bigger and stronger,” Coleman said. “Definitely more offense-minded this year, and just can’t wait for the season to start.

“If we need a basket down low, I think I can step in and do that.”

As soon as last year’s Final Four run came to an end, the big men — labeled by many as the team’s weakest position — fired up their preparation for what they hope is a comeback season.

Coleman, Christmas and Keita reported for duty at the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center five days a week throughout the offseason. Once the basketballs come out, the on-court drills begin.

They practice three simple post moves: stationary hook shots, hook shots off a drop step and up-and-unders. Hold the ball high in the air, don’t hesitate and go up strong to the rim. Take your six shots and rotate.

“Just doing everything to perfection. We don’t do more than three moves. We try to perfect three moves and then move on,” Christmas said. “We do it every day. It’s like daily vitamins for us.”

Outside of the key, the big men work on coming off screens and knocking down 15-17- foot jumpers, which assistant coach Mike Hopkins said will help develop their shooting stroke at the free-throw line.

After putting in an hour and a half on the court, the big men head to the workout room, where they spend another hour and a half enhancing their physiques with weightlifting and running.

And all that sweating has paid off.

Coleman said he is entering this season 10-15 pounds lighter. The knee that sidelined him for eight games last year is now at 100 percent.

His trimmed frame, assistant coach Adrian Autry said, will be the first thing people notice about Coleman this season. His slimmer build and work ethic have translated to the low post, where he’s refined his skills, Autry said.

The sophomore has improved his use of both hands to finish at the rim, Autry said, and is shooting the ball 15-17 feet away from the hoop.

“He’s getting more confident and comfortable with what we’re doing and understanding schemes,” Autry said. “I think the biggest thing is getting that year under his belt, getting himself in condition.”

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On the other hand is Christmas, who has always had a reputation for being an imposing, shot-blocking defensive presence near the rim.

He backed that up as a freshman two years ago in the NCAA Tournament. With starting center Fab Melo out, Christmas filled in admirably during the Orange’s journey to the Elite Eight, posting 18 rebounds in SU’s first two tournament matchups.

But he hasn’t been well known for his offensive abilities. Until now.

Fair has noticed a considerable change in Christmas’ poise, and Autry raved about how much effort Christmas has devoted to developing a jump hook.

The big men competed with each other for playing time last year, but a major theme throughout SU’s offseason has been Christmas and Coleman learning to play on the court together, Hopkins said.

“When they’re in the game together, they’ve got to be able to impose their size and their will and their athleticism,” Hopkins said, “and really get some easy putbacks for that lineup to be fairly effective.

“But they’re really effective when they can put that other guy right in the paint underneath the basket, where all they have to do is what? Turn, face and finish.”

That combination so far, Coleman said, has featured him at the five and Christmas playing the four. That’s where they played in SU’s season-opening scrimmage against Holy Family last Friday.

The duo has started to establish high-to-low post chemistry, Coleman said, and the SU coaching staff expects that connection to strengthen with time.

Hopkins pointed to Syracuse’s trip to Canada this summer as the epitome of how powerfully the Orange’s big men can dictate the team’s success. Engaged in a “dogfight” against the University of Ottawa on Aug. 24, Syracuse led by just six at halftime.

But out of the break, Coleman spearheaded a 22-2 run with eight points en route to his dominant 26-point performance. When Coleman headed to the bench, Christmas stepped up to hit two jumpers and put the game further out of reach.

Christmas finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds in what ended up being a 23-point victory for the Orange.

Now the real deal waits ahead, and Syracuse’s big men welcome the challenge.

“We’ve been getting prepared for this and we’re ready,” Christmas said. “This year, we want to come in, get the ball and just go after it.”