A Syracuse basketball bubble? Why it just might work…

The Athletic released an idea of how a bubble of different pods may work to safely have college basketball. Here’s what it means for Syracuse basketball.

COVID has forced leagues everywhere to re-think and re-shape the 2020 season. College basketball may have it the toughest, as 350-plus teams share the Division One membership. But as the Athletic gives their take on a pod-bubble hybrid, it certainly draws intrigue. And for Syracuse basketball, it involves an old-rival.

For short background information, the Athletic staff hypothetically created a whole bunch of ‘pods’ – bubbles based on geographic location and not conference membership – in order to safely place teams with like teams. They tried to create some type of balance, although of course, Power-6 teams are sure to have an advantage.

Syracuse was placed in the Albany region (the site joked at forcing Jim Boeheim to leave the Dome for once). The Orange were paired with old Big East rival St. John’s as the marquee teams, with Albany, Central Connecticut, Marist, UMass Lowell, Sacred Heart, Siena, and Yale as the mid-major teams.

At first glance, you’re probably thinking something along the lines of, “Undefeated here we come!” But it’s actually more balanced than you think.

Siena and Yale are legitimate teams, both being placed in Joe Lunardi’s most recent projection of the 2021 NCAA Tournament bracket. Albany, CCSU, Marist, and UMass Lowell don’t exactly match up, but it’s not like Syracuse doesn’t place some uneven matchups in a normal season anyways.

The Athletic chose not to go down the route of plenty of other teams that could have been placed in this pod. UConn and Buffalo come to mind first, but Colgate, Cornell, St. Bonaventure, and even Seton Hall could have been viable options.

This is completely hypothetical, but it is a very well-thought-out proposal. The Athletic estimated it would cost a little higher than $50,000 for each team, which would go toward travel costs, COVID testing, and other costs. However, TV revenue would still be a thing because, frankly, if college basketball is on, people will watch, no matter how odd the season is.

Can a plan this unique and without conference ties actually be done? Sure, if the NCAA and Mark Emmert want a season. It’s worth discussing something along the lines if this format, especially with over two months before the season is supposed to start back up.

If there’s Syracuse basketball this winter, and a pod-bubble format is the only way, let the people have it!