Syracuse Basketball: Way-too-early conference and team projections
Josh Peelman
PROJECTIONS
- Duke
- North Carolina
- Florida State
- Louisville
- Virginia
- Syracuse
- Clemson
- Georgia Tech
- NC State
- Pitt
- Virginia Tech
- Notre Dame
- Miami
- Boston College
- Wake Forest
Peelman on the ACC
The ACC is in for another rebuilding year of sorts. There are few teams in the conference that return a lot of starters or veterans for that matter.
The few teams that do have veterans like Syracuse and Georgia Tech don’t look all that strong based on their records last year either. So places 1-15 in the ACC is really up for grabs.
Most experts will still put elite programs like Duke, UNC, and Virginia near the top. For all we know, they could be right, after all they bring in tons of pro-ready recruits or grad transfers that could make big impacts next year.
Personally though I think the veteran teams will surprise and be closer to the top of the ACC than people think.
Peelman on the Orange
Take Syracuse for example. The Orange don’t return a ton of players after their mass exodus of players this offseason, and their one main addition in Alan Griffin won’t be eligible to play this season (thanks NCAA!).
Syracuse basketball does however return it’s main core of players though in Buddy Boeheim, Joe Girard III, Marek Dolezaj, Quincy Guerrier, and Bourama Sidibe. That core alone may make the Orange better than most teams in the conference and give it an advantage that other teams won’t have next season.
I see the Orange as a fringe Top-25 team. Sure they lack depth and star power, but have five pretty decent players that can play both sides of the ball well. If they play together and don’t get too fatigued by the end of the year it could be a special season.
Maybe I sound too optimistic, but a top five finish in the ACC isn’t outside the realm of possibility. Let’s Go Orange!