Syracuse Basketball Roundtable: Is Cuse In Or Out?
We brought together our staff to give their final predictions before selection Sunday. Here’s what they had to say about the Syracuse basketball team’s inclusion in the NCAA Tournament’s Field of 68.
It’s been a topsy turbulent few weeks here for the Syracuse basketball team. After the Duke buzzer beater by John Gillon they were in. The next game they lose to Lousiville by like 20 and its been all hills and valleys from there.
Now, after a long wait following an early ACC tournament exit, it’s finally time to find out their fate. But before we get there let’s see what our staff’s thoughts are.
Q: Is Syracuse Basketball going to be in the NCAA Tournament’s Field of 68?
Josh Peelman- Contributor
Follow: @jnpmessenger
Syracuse is in in my opinion. Yeah the computer numbers are bad and Syracuse has a bunch of road losses, but who doesn’t who’s on the bubble? Look at what they’ve accomplished. They beat three top ten teams (at the time). They have sic wins versus the top 50, five of which are almost definitely in the field, and they had a winning record by two (10-8) games in conference.
If the team was considered to still be in before the ACC tournament game versus Miami then they should be afterwards. Miami is a quality opponent and a loss to them in close fashion shouldn’t change that. They have more quality wins than the rest of the bubble (except Vanderbilt) so I think they make the field of 68.
Neil Adler- Contributor
I agree Josh. However, we can all go on and on and on about Syracuse’s high-quality wins, and truly awful losses. Such a debate could continue on for an eternity. Sure, there are the three top-10 triumphs, six RPI top-50 conquests and 10 ACC victories in the country’s most-competitive league. But then again, SU’s RPI is sub-par, and the ‘Cuse sported a 2-11 mark outside of Central New York.
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It had zero stellar non-conference successes (save for Monmouth), and the Orange got blasted by lowly St. John’s and Boston College, while also suffering ugly setbacks to Georgetown and Connecticut. Putting all of this aside, it really comes down to this: is Syracuse one of the nation’s best 68 teams?
I believe so. And could this SU roster win games in the Big Dance? Absolutely. My heart says that the ‘Cuse will hear its name called on Sunday evening. However, I’m afraid that outfits like Kansas State and Rhode Island, which actually did positive things in their respective conference tournaments, unlike SU, may slip past our beloved Orange for the final at-large berths. So my heart feels one thing, but my gut fears the NIT is beckoning. I sincerely hope that my instincts are wrong.
Paul A. Esden Jr.- Site Expert
Follow: @BoyGreen25
This is truly a conundrum one could make a legitimate argument for either side for why SU should or shouldn’t be in this tournament. But what I want in this judgemental process is consistency. Is the 2-11 road/neutral mark atrocious? Of course it is, but Neil if you look at the rest of the conference, only 20% of the teams are above 500 on the road. That’s got to be a strong indicator that this is the best conference in all of college basketball.
Knowing that factoid, the 10 wins in conference must carry its weight in value. At the end of the day it’s a blessing and a curse being in the ACC. With the start they had to start the season, their chances were marginal at best that they were going to turn their season around. But because they played in such a difficult conference that provided an opportunity something that the Orange took full advantage of in the second half of their season, something has to be said of that.
Therefore, in conclusion, and putting bias aside, I believe this team is in the tournament, so much so, that I believe they’re one of the 68 in and they won’t have to go to Dayton.
Neil Adler- Contributor
What confidence Paul!!! Not headed to Dayton??? Hope you’re right!
Josh Peelman- Contributor
Follow: @jnpmessenger
Neil, I’m with you there. This team feels like it’s destined for the NIT. I truly believe Syracuse is a top 68 team. We are. No question. Unfortunately, the tournament doesn’t run that way….yet. The system in place next year will help rank teams better than the RPI currently does (to how good teams actually are) but until then the system is still pretty flawed.
There may not ever be a perfect system. Teams far less deserving get in from inferior conferences every year and no system will change that because its the fair thing to do. Now that’s not the committee’s fault, but it is what it is. If the tournament was run with the top 68 teams then I’m sure the Orange would be in, but because it’s not, we are subjected to bubble terror. I think the Orange this year have done more than enough to get in, but we’ll have to wait and see.
And Paul, that ACC stat about road wins is nuts. Who knew? Seriously, the ACC is the toughest conference. Why does the Big Ten and some analysts not understand that? Top to bottom, in the ACC, you can lose any night. In the Big Ten there is always Rutgers. So there’s always one team you can beat (joking).
Zachary Weisleder- Contributor
Follow: @ZachWeisleder
Although Syracuse has lost to some horrible teams, I truly think 8-10 ACC teams should make it, and Syracuse was a top 8 team in the conference before the ACC tournament. Losing to the Miami Hurricanes in the second round of the ACC Tournament didn’t do ‘Cuse any favors though.
The Syracuse Orange finished the regular season with a 18-14 record. Joe Lunardi has this squad projected to play in a qualifier, and have to win in order to advance as a 12th seed. Syracuse had plenty of early season woes, but have defeated Duke, Florida State, and Virginia. It’s their losses that can keep this squad from participating, but putting this team through could pan out to once again make the selection committee look like geniuses.
My eyes will be glued to the television tomorrow night, and I believe that this Orange team deserves and will make the big dance. Last year, the Orange finished ACC play with very similar results, and shocked the world in March Madness. This year’s squad has more experience, and two graduate transfers that can explode at a moment’s notice.
Ty Butler- Contributor
Follow: @TyDButler
Syracuse should get a chance to qualify for the NCAA tournament as a team involved in a play-in game. Though the Orange started the season off slow, just 3-4 in ACC play after seven games, they found a way to finish above the .500 mark in what many people deem the toughest conference in college basketball history.
SU corralled three wins over Top-10 opponents (Florida State, Virginia and Duke). In addition to this impressive feat, it defeated a Miami team that came into the Dome 11-2 on the season. Just last weekend in a game the Orange desperately needed against another bubble team at the moment, they put up 90 points against a Top-5 defense in Georgia Tech. Syracuse is definitely one of the best 68 teams in the country and should get a chance to vie for a bid.
Ryan Lee- Contributor
Follow: @Ryan_Lee31
Where is Syracuse headed this postseason? My opinion is they will be headed…To THE BIG DANCE! Yes, a lot goes against Syracuse when you take a quick look at their resume; 2 wins away from home and bad losses to UCONN, Georgetown, St. John’s and Boston College. This is also cancelled out by huge wins amongst some of the top teams in the country and ACC; Duke, Virginia, and Florida State. Plus when you compare Syracuse with some of the others you see on the bubble the Orange’s record of 10-8 holds stronger than the rest when compared to in conference play.
Many also point to RPI as a weakness to Syracuse but with each passing year the committee pays less and less attention to this number and more at the BPI where SU hovers in the mid 30s. Right now many bracketologists have a team such as Providence in, but with no wins other than against Butler, that can compare to Syracuse’s best wins. The Friars are also saddled with identical losses to Georgetown and St. John’s and a worst loss than any of SU’s to DePaul. So there is no reason why they should be ahead of the CUSE and I doubt the committee will have them infront. Last year Syracuse set a record for the lowest RPI and receiving an At-Large bid, get ready for more history as they break their own record.
Ty Butler- Contributor
Follow: @TyDButler
In addition to what I said, I think it’s erroneous to argue anything Syracuse did negates what happened in non conference play. Losing to St. John’s, UConn and Georgetown doesn’t just go away. Those are horrendous losses that even the impressive wins at home can’t extinguish. It just works out for ‘Cuse that the bubble is weak. Inside the Loud House’s Josh Peelman covered that yesterday.
Next: SU’s Resume This Year Is Fairly Even With Last Season’s Squad
Josh Peelman- Contributor
Follow: @jnpmessenger
Well that about does it gentleman. It’s been a crazy couple of days (and weeks) on the bubble and we only have to sweat out a couple hours more. There are both good and bad things on Syracuse Basketball’s resume, but tonight we’ll find out which outweighs the other. If the selection committee thinks like we do though then they’ll be in. Until next time!
