Syracuse Basketball: Orange seem destined to make another magical run

The Syracuse basketball team defied all odds to advance to the round of 32 against Michigan State. ITLH breaks down what this all means.

Maybe I’m wearing the orange colored sun glasses, but it sure feels like this Syracuse basketball team is destined to make another tournament run.

For the most part, the things that have been consistent for this team haven’t been good:

• Syracuse has been consistently terrible offensively
• This team has consistently lacked depth all season
• Somehow the Cuse are always in close games at the end

A big reason for that is for a positive consistency and that’s of course the 2-3 zone. It’s arguably better than it has ever been and because of that, the Cardiac Cuse don’t need to do much offensively for this team to win games.

Speaking of offense, one of the only ways the Cuse have won games this year is via their version of the big three in Tyus Battle, Oshae Brissett, and Frank Howard. If they aren’t playing well, the team typically is losing games.

Interestingly enough that wasn’t the case in Syracuse’s latest game. If you would’ve told me the big three combined to go 2-of-13 from downtown, I probably would’ve told you, well it was a nice season. If you would’ve also added that the big three went 11-of-40, I would’ve said fat chance this team moves on.

But that’s exactly what they’re doing thanks to an unlikely source of offense and that’s SU’s resident Slovakian, Marek Dolezaj.

Dolezaj had the game of his life when SU needed it most (sound familiar?). Despite fouling out with a ton of time left in the second half, Dolezaj was able to muster 17 points (team-high) and even drilled a three pointer with the shot clock running down. The crowd lost it at the local establishment I watched the game at.

As he gains experience, his game continues to develop and blossom in front of our eyes. Winning two games in March Madness should be enough of a confidence booster. But this team winning without playing their best game has to be extra motivating moving forward.

Although their path to another National Championship won’t be easy. While there was some unexpected chaos during March Madness, it didn’t happen in SU’s portion of the bracket. For the first time in NCAA history a No. 1 seed went down to a No. 16 seed. Sadly that happened in the complete opposite side of the bracket. There are no shortcuts on the path to success and glory.

While the team avoided the Michigan State Spartans during their 2016 run, that won’t be the case this season.

The Cuse will have another day and a half of rest before their round of 32 matchup. Here’s a quick look at what the Orange are in store for on Sunday. The Spartans have multiple future NBA stars on this team, led by sophomore guard Miles Bridges.

Although he looks more like a forward with his (6-foot-seven, 225 pound frame). I got to see the round of 64 matchup against Bucknell and he was ridiculous. He dropped in a team-high 29 points. Bridges attacked the rim with ferocity and even showed he has range from outside.

Next: Syracuse Basketball: Top 30 Players in School History

This Spartans team was under-seeded as a No. 3 seed and really should’ve been a No. 2, but they stand in the way of another Sweet 16 appearance for Jim Boeheim and company. It won’t be easy and this will be the third straight offensive juggernaut the 2-3 zone will have to deal with. But the camaraderie of this tight knit group inspires confidence and hope that perhaps this can be a year to remember forever.