Syracuse basketball is the best team in a competitive New York state

CBS Sports places Syracuse basketball as the No. 1 squad in the state of New York.

The state of New York may not have the same collective level of collegiate teams than, say, North Carolina, but the Empire State is more than solid, and Syracuse basketball leads the way.

CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander is projecting the best team in each state, while ranking other squads, too. The Orange is No. 1 in New York state followed in the top 10 by St. John’s, St. Bonaventure, Siena, Colgate, Hofstra, Buffalo, Iona, Fordham and Stony Brook.

Niagara, led by head coach and Syracuse native Greg Paulus, is No. 14. Cornell, where forward Jimmy Boeheim may transfer from, is No. 16.

"Here’s what Norlander had to say about the Orange and other New York teams in his feature. “Jim Boeheim has almost seen it all in this near-50-year career in coaching, with this pandemic and his recent COVID-19 positive diagnosis being the latest curveball. The Orange should comfortably be the Empire State’s top team, though Siena is the best squad in the MAAC and seems NCAA Tournament-worthy. Colgate is also well-positioned in the Patriot League, which won’t begin play until Jan. 2.”"

As it pertains to the ‘Cuse non-conference opponents to date in 2020-21, Bryant is No. 4 in Rhode Island, Rider is No. 7 in New Jersey, Rutgers is No. 1 in New Jersey, Buffalo is No. 7 in New York and Georgetown is No. 1 in Washington, D.C.

Syracuse basketball is tops in New York state, and see where other ACC teams reside in their own states.

Atlantic Coast Conference groups, understandably, are well-positioned in a variety of states. Florida State is No. 2 and Miami is No. 3 in the Sunshine State.

Georgia Tech is No. 1 in Georgia. Notre Dame checks in at No. 4 in Indiana. Louisville is No. 2 in the commonwealth of Kentucky. Boston College is the top-rated squad in Massachusetts.

In the talent-rich North Carolina, Duke is on top. The North Carolina Tar Heels are No. 2, N.C. State is No. 3 and Wake Forest is No. 6.

Pittsburgh is No. 3 in Pennsylvania, while Clemson is No. 1 in South Carolina.

Finally, in Virginia, the UVA Cavaliers are No. 1, and Virginia Tech is arranged at No. 3.