Before the season he wasn’t ready for came to an end, Kaleb Joseph began pondering what he could improve on.

One made field goal in the last five games. Benched with two games remaining. A need to improve shooting, get stronger and make better decisions.

The year went by faster than Joseph expected and ended sooner than he hoped.

Since, Joseph has become feistier, more efficient with his time and knows what he’s actually preparing for.

Joseph used to worry about things he couldn’t control. His decisions were rushed. His shots weren’t falling.

“It’s always a fear of the unknown,” Joseph said of his freshman self. “But now I’ll be better for it. I know what to expect going into a season.”

The 6-foot-3, 165-pound wiry freshman point guard wasn’t supposed to start. Tyler Ennis was. But Ennis left for the NBA and Joseph was thrust into the lineup. Joseph used his first offseason in college to prepare for what he’s already been through, something he couldn’t do last summer, and it’s resulted in 15 added pounds of muscle and renewed confidence.

Joseph will likely come off the bench this year as fifth-year senior Michael Gbinije is SU’s new starting point guard. Gbinije started at small forward last year and, toward the end of the season, played the point late in games instead of Joseph.

But with an offseason to continue building his late-developing body, Joseph’s confidence is rubbing off.

“If Mike Gbinije had graduated, I’d be very comfortable with Kaleb starting at the point,” Boeheim said. “Very comfortable. Unlike last year when I was not that comfortable.”

With all the working out Joseph did, he had to eat more calories and protein. He ate “heavy foods” like chicken, steak and pasta. Joseph had to discipline himself to eat even when he wasn’t hungry.

It’s all a result of inner motivation — to win in college, be the best he can be and make it to the NBA — a requirement to be good at anything, he says.

In high school, Joseph’s body wasn’t as developed as much as his peers, either, which frustrated him.

So he’d respond.

“If he was in the gym on a Friday or Saturday night, I wouldn’t have been surprised,” said Vin Pastore, the coach of Joseph’s Mass Rivals AAU team.

“The thing about Kaleb is he works his ass off everyday,” said Barry Connors, Joseph’s coach at Cushing (Massachusetts) Academy. “People would be out socializing, people would be sleeping and he’d be in the gym.”

So, how Joseph responded this offseason is what he knows best. Syracuse’s self-proclaimed biggest gym rat trained three times a day — practicing his shooting while also lifting weights and working with director of strength and conditioning Ryan Cabiles.

Wake up, shoot and go home to eat. Come back to lift, stretch and go home again. Come back a third time. Work out more. Go home. Sleep.

It was repetitive, consistent and even tedious, Joseph admitted.

There were days he felt tired. He did it anyway.

Boeheim said Joseph tells him he’s going to be the best shooter on the team, his conviction a testament to the work he put in over the summer.

In practice, Joseph’s demonstrated his improved shot to teammates and coaches. He can match up with bigger opponents and plays with more intensity.

“He’s really pushing people,” Gbinije said. “He’s pushing me, Trevor (Cooney) and whoever he’s playing against. He’s getting everybody better, including himself.”

Joseph wasn’t satisfied with his performance last year, but still sees the value it provided.

Nothing can substitute experience, and the offseason that followed was the result.

“He was put in an almost impossible situation last year,” Boeheim said. “He just wasn’t physically or mentally ready for it. And I think he is this year.”