Syracuse Basketball: Some Orange fanatics are just never satisfied

Syracuse basketball, by a ton of metrics, is one of the 10 best programs in history, but recent blips have various fans unnecessarily up in arms.

In an age of collegiate hoops where immediate gratification is demanded and a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately attitude continually percolates, Syracuse basketball is seemingly hot garbage, according to a section of Orange fans.

That’s utter non-sense to me, but everyone is entitled to his or her opinion.

In fact, whenever a significant development occurs for Syracuse – in recruiting, the team’s performance, or anything else for that matter – I peruse social media to get a sense of the fans’ temperature for the Orange.

Lately, a lot of coldness has persisted. Take, for example, ‘Cuse target Quincy Ballard on Saturday picking Atlantic Coast Conference foe Florida State over Syracuse, and Maryland.

Once this news broke, I knew that the Orange Twitter-sphere would absolutely blow up with negativity. It’s totally reasonable to feel disappointed that the 7-foot Ballard, a promising center in the 2020 class, opted for the Seminoles, particularly since he’s from the Syracuse area.

By extension, it’s understandable if frustration ensues due to the ‘Cuse missing out on yet another prospect who had put the Orange among his small group of finalists, but ultimately decided to suit up for a crew beyond the one that we love up on the Hill. That’s the fickle and heart-breaking recruiting world for you.

What irritates me, however, is the impulsivity of a legion of Syracuse fans. A few recruiting swings and misses, and the program is in the dumpster. A handful of stanzas in which the ‘Cuse either struggles in the regular season or doesn’t advance far in March Madness, and head coach Jim Boeheim needs to get shown the door.

I never discount anyone’s criticism of the Orange, and there’s also no denying that Syracuse is trending a bit downward these days. Conversely, I do believe that many who are slamming the ‘Cuse could benefit from a bit of historical context, and they should view this squad from a bigger picture than what has transpired over the past half-dozen years.

I’ve also come to the realization that you simply can’t appease some folks. They’re going to whine regardless. Consider the case of Ballard. After he selected FSU, one camp of critics said that it’s kind of pathetic the Orange couldn’t reel in a local player, and one who isn’t ranked at this juncture by the primary recruiting services.

Okay, fine. But, let’s face it, if Ballard made Syracuse his collegiate destination, then I guarantee an assortment of ‘Cuse fans would complain that the Orange got a commitment from an unrated prospect, rather than a top-25 star or a McDonald’s All-American.

Damned if you do. Damned if you don’t.

I readily acknowledge that, since Syracuse joined the ACC for the 2013-14 campaign, its recruiting and on-court performances have fallen off, as compared to a golden age of success that began in 2009 and culminated in 2014.

College hoops is an ultra-competitive sport. The blue bloods regularly obtain the best recruits, and that will likely never change. It is what it is.

The ‘Cuse, too, got stung by recent NCAA sanctions, which undoubtedly affected recruiting, as well

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as uncertainty over Boeheim’s coaching future, unexpected transfers out and guys leaving early for the pros, injuries, etc.

I’m not making excuses. I’m merely saying that a confluence of events has contributed to the Orange’s slight drop-off in recent years.

But fire Boeheim? Come on. This legend hasn’t possessed a losing term in 44 seasons at the helm in Central New York. Other Hall of Famers, including North Carolina’s Roy Williams, can’t boast of such a streak, and the Tar Heels land way more premier prospects than Syracuse.

What I’m really getting at here with this ranting and raving is that, while I recognize the recruiting drags and downer regular stanzas of late, let’s all take a collective deep breath and attempt to keep things in perspective.

Recruiting-wise, the ‘Cuse is always going to face an uphill battle when it squares off with the likes of Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and UNC, along with numerous others including Arizona, Louisville and Michigan State.

The Orange has its strengths, such as competing in the ACC, boasting a massive facility in the Carrier Dome, owning a stellar basketball brand, and having a Hall of Fame boss. On the flip side, it can’t prove easy to convince a recruit to come to a city that is among the snowiest across the country and where sunshine is typically lacking.

Syracuse coaches don’t appear to take much stock in the rankings of recruiting services, which I admire. Boeheim and his assistants look for players who fit their system, rather than focusing on ratings.

The fact that high-level guys often have the ‘Cuse in their top fives is better than if the Orange over and over again didn’t get grouped among the finalists.

In any event, I don’t need to list every top-25, top-50 or top-100 high-school player that Syracuse has secured in recent memory, or over the unit’s history. The ‘Cuse is solid at recruiting – it will lose out frequently, and win on occasion. Much like every other team out there.

Even though the Orange has put forth multiple sub-par regular seasons since becoming an ACC member, keep this in mind. Syracuse started off 2013-14 at 25-0 and attained the No. 1 national rating. In 2016 and 2018, the ‘Cuse traveled to the Final Four and Sweet 16, respectively.

Going back a tad further, between 2009 and 2020, the Orange made nine NCAA Tournaments in 12 terms, and that includes the 2015 self-imposed, post-season ban and the 2020 halt due to the novel coronavirus pandemic (not that Syracuse would have danced this past March).

In several instances during this stretch, the Orange got rated No. 1 in the polls and earned a No. 1 seed in March Madness. The ‘Cuse journeyed to a pair of Final Fours, an Elite Eight, and a trio of Sweet 16s.

Syracuse also was perhaps an untimely injury or eligibility issue away from reaching another Final Four and possibly even capturing a second national title.

Maybe Orange fans are spoiled, as these recent performances aren’t all that bad. A lot of programs would gladly take them. And there’s more to ponder.

All-time, the ‘Cuse is No. 6 in total victories throughout Division I men’s basketball, and Syracuse is No. 7 in historical winning percentage.

Boeheim is second behind Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski in career successes. I don’t give a crap what the NCAA says; JB has amassed more than 1,000 conquests.

The Orange’s six Final Four appearances hover around the top 10 nationally, as does its total weeks ranked in the Associated Press top-25 poll. Additionally, Boeheim himself is in the top 10 overall as it pertains to NCAA Tournament victories and Final Four berths.

The ‘Cuse, dating back to before Boeheim became head coach, hasn’t had a losing season in nearly half a century. Syracuse is a top-10 team in a boatload of all-time categories. It’s a powerhouse brand that also happens to fall one or two tiers behind the blue bloods.

Recruiting is certainly credible, but not always amazing. The ACC has proven a challenge. The Orange is still a really good team, when one views it in totality, and not just based on a few recent years.

I, for one, am proud of what the ‘Cuse has achieved. If it’s not adequate enough for a bunch of fans, well, I counter with, so what? Like I said earlier, you can’t please everyone.