Syracuse Basketball Predictions: Can the Orange win the national title?

Neil Adler (contributor)

ACC Finish: Fourth

NCAA Tournament Finish: Elite Eight

The Syracuse basketball squad has its sights set on a special 2018-19 season, which gets underway on Nov. 6 at home versus Eastern Washington. Expectations are undeniably high for SU, which returns all five starters from a stanza ago, brings in a strong freshman class, and will get to see East Carolina transfer Elijah Hughes in action after sitting out the last term.

The ‘Cuse finds itself ranked in the top 25 of virtually every poll you can imagine, and the pre-season hype surrounding junior wing Tyus Battle, sophomore forward Oshae Brissett and others is sky high. When it comes to prognostications, I’m usually pretty awful, so take what I predict with a huge grain of salt (potatoes). I believe that the Orange will go 11-2 in the non-conference slate, followed by a 12-6 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference, finishing the league’s regular campaign in fourth place. That puts Syracuse at 23-8.

Then, our beloved boys will reach the semi-finals of the ACC Tournament, while earning a No. 4 seed in the Big Dance. Most importantly, no sweating out Selection Sunday! During March Madness, SU’s vaunted 2-3 zone will once again stifle its opponents, enabling the ‘Cuse to knock off a No. 1 seed in the Sweet 16 before the Orange unfortunately bows out in the Elite Eight.

Ultimately, Syracuse concludes 2018-19 at 27-10, and SU is ranked No. 10 in the final top-25 poll. A splendid season, indeed! ‘Cuse is in da house, omg.