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Syracuse Basketball prominently featured in columnist’s ACC predictions

By Neil Adler

SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 04: Syracuse Orange mascot Otto dances with a cheerleader during the game between the Syracuse Orange and the Virginia Cavaliers on February 4, 2017 at The Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeated Virginia 66-62. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 04: Syracuse Orange mascot Otto dances with a cheerleader during the game between the Syracuse Orange and the Virginia Cavaliers on February 4, 2017 at The Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. Syracuse defeated Virginia 66-62. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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The off-season is a time for us to provide our prognostications. Jon Rothstein has done so, with Syracuse basketball receiving some recognition.

Following the annual NBA Draft, the summer turns a bit slow as it pertains to collegiate hoops.

Sure, there’s occasional recruiting news, and the unveiling of teams’ schedules, primarily on the non-conference side.

But we also get to read a lot of speculative chatter from all the industry pundits about which programs they fancy before the upcoming stanza commences.

One of the best in the business, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports and the FanRag Sports Network, earlier this week published his “ACC Offseason Notebook.” It’s an informative piece, and one that includes numerous mentions of Syracuse.

Naturally, we’d like to share the SU tidbits here.

Rothstein wonders how many Atlantic Coast Conference members will make the Big Dance. He

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notes that nine ACC units have competed in March Madness for each of the past two years – and that is again a reasonable goal for the 2019 NCAA Tournament.

"Writes Rothstein, “The ACC currently has seven teams — Duke, Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, Syracuse, and Clemson — in the FRS Preseason Top 25 and four in the Top 10.”He adds that the league’s depth “is still vastly underrated. Why? Last season, Florida State finished 9-9 in conference play and reached the Elite Eight while Syracuse finished 8-10 in ACC play and advanced all the way to the Sweet 16.”"

Okay, Jon, I’m on board with these comments so far.

Rothstein then reveals his off-season power rankings for the conference, with Duke at the top, followed by Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State and the ‘Cuse at No. 6. No need to list the remaining schools, as I honestly only care about the Orange. Haha.

SU’s placement seems a tad off to me; I would have Syracuse at either No. 4 or No. 5, but that’s really splitting hairs.

His pre-season All-ACC first group includes junior wing Tyus Battle, and that is absolutely appropriate. However, where’s the love for sophomore forward Oshae Brissett?

Of his “15 Impact Freshmen,” ‘Cuse guard Jalen Carey makes the cut, while guard Buddy Boeheim is slotted in the “10 Under-The-Radar Freshmen.”

For Rothstein’s “10 Impact Transfers,” he has guard/small forward Elijah Hughes, who sat out the most-recent term after moving from East Carolina to Syracuse.

Finally, Rothstein is spot on, in my opinion, by having SU sophomore forward Marek Dolezaj among his “10 Breakout Players.”

Next: Syracuse Basketball: Top 30 Players in School History

We possess an exciting roster for the 2018-19 campaign, and expectations continue to rise for our guys in Orange. I can’t wait to see them on the court in just a few short months!

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