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

Paul A. Esden Jr. (Co-Site Expert)

ACC Finish: Third

NCAA Tournament Finish: National Champion

The only thing I care about is not sweating it out on Selection Sunday. In all seriousness though can we place be concerned with how high we can be as opposed to not making it at all? Just a simple request.

This team is absolutely positively LOADED at nearly every position. They’ve got veteran leadership with five returning starters from a Sweet 16 squad. That’s the first time that has happened on the hill since 1999.

Hell if you just returned last year’s team, adding no pieces, this is a preseason top-20 team. But they aren’t just that team, they also added a ton of talent and that’s why they’re so heralded.

The only concern is all the injuries at point guard:

• Frank Howard
• Howard Washington
• Jalen Carey

There was even a recent report suggesting that Carey could be out until the midpoint of November. Washington is recovering from a torn ACL and who knows when he’ll be back. While Frank Howard is arguably the most underappreciated star at Syracuse. He always gets the blame but rarely ever gets the credit when he does something right.

I’m going to be that guy, blame me later, I think Syracuse has the stuff to win the National Championship and I’ll predict it. Get ready Orange fans, this is going to be special.