Syracuse Basketball: Way-too-early conference and team projections
Neil Adler
PROJECTIONS
- Virginia
- Duke
- North Carolina
- Florida State
- Louisville
- Miami
- Georgia Tech
- Syracuse
- Clemson
- NC State
- Pitt
- Virginia Tech
- Notre Dame
- Boston College
- Wake Forest
Adler on the ACC
After taking a tumble in 2019-20, the Atlantic Coast Conference will prove a better overall league in the upcoming campaign.
Last year, only four ACC crews found themselves ranked in the major polls, and the conference would have likely only gotten four or five squads into the Big Dance, before the NCAA Tournament got cancelled due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
As we look ahead to 2020-21, the ACC certainly could have about a half-dozen groups rated in top-25 ballots, and the league is in position for anywhere from six to 10 of its members to contend for March Madness invites.
Virginia will land in the top 10 of pre-season polls. Duke is Duke. The Blue Devils always reload. UNC is back. Florida State, Louisville and Miami will prove solid. Georgia Tech, Clemson and N.C. State could possibly go dancing.
Adler on the Orange
Throw in Syracuse basketball there, too, and that’s probably the cut-off as far as the proverbial bubble goes.
In terms of the Orange, well, the good news is that the ‘Cuse returns four starters from a stanza ago, it brings in two excellent freshmen and a terrific transfer, and all of Syracuse’s young guys have an additional year of experience under their belts. The bad news is that Elijah Hughes, who led the ACC in scoring during 2019-20, is heading to the NBA.
Replacing him is virtually impossible, although if Illinois transfer Alan Griffin, a talented sophomore wing, gets granted a waiver by the NCAA to immediately compete, then the Orange could vie for an at-large berth to the NCAA tourney.
I presently have the ‘Cuse at No. 8 in the super early ACC power rankings, and it wouldn’t surprise me one iota if Syracuse basketball arrives in the No. 6 to the No. 10 range. While there is a long way to go before collegiate basketball can commence, hopefully a season will occur.