Syracuse Basketball: Predictions for Orange in ACC Tournament

Neil Adler (22-9)
Prediction: 1 more win

One more win and Syracuse basketball are in the Big Dance. That’s my prognosis following SU’s disheartening loss at Clemson on Saturday afternoon, which wrapped up the 2018-19 regular season for the ‘Cuse (19-12, 10-8).

Now the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament commences, and in that event, the Orange has earned the No. 6 seed and a first-round bye. Syracuse will play at 9 p.m. this Wednesday evening versus the prevailing group in a Tuesday-night affair between No. 11 seed Boston College and No. 14 seed Pittsburgh.

It’s important to note that SU went 2-0 against both the Eagles and the Panthers during the present stanza. Should the ‘Cuse collect a conquest in its inaugural battle, it would then go on to face No. 3 seed Duke on Thursday in the ACC tourney’s quarterfinals.

At this juncture, the majority of bracketologists view the Orange as a No. 9 seed in March Madness. Syracuse possesses an NCAA NET rating of No. 46, which isn’t great, nor is it terrible. Our beloved boys own a half-dozen achievements in true road tilts, a solid benchmark, but an 0-2 mark in neutral-site contests, with setbacks to Connecticut and Oregon in the non-conference slate, is troublesome.

This is solely my opinion and only a gut feeling, however, a triumph over BC or Pitt will provide SU with the requisite 20 total successes to feel safe on Selection Sunday. On the flip side, if the ‘Cuse bows out right away in the ACC Tournament, then all of Orange Nation will have a nervous stomach when the field of 68 is revealed. I still think that Syracuse can attain an NCAA tourney invite under this latter scenario, as a 19-13 record isn’t awful, especially given the victories at the Blue Devils and Ohio State, as well as home defeats of Clemson, Georgetown, and Louisville.

Some of this depends on whether other bubble bunches put forth tremendous runs in their respective league tournaments and steal automatic bids. I don’t know about you, but I vote for SU to just conquer the Eagles or the Panthers, and then take its best shot at Duke and see what happens. Sound good?