Syracuse basketball has a loss but still a solid seed in ESPN bracketology

Our favorite bracketologist, Joe Lunardi, is giving Syracuse basketball some love.

The 2020-21 campaign is in its early stages, and Syracuse basketball has already suffered a defeat, but that isn’t stopping ESPN’s Joe Lunardi from putting the Orange in his newly released mock field of 68.

Lunardi, who has forged a love-hate relationship with ‘Cuse fans in recent years as it pertains to March Madness, is arranging Syracuse basketball as the No. 9 seed in Region 1, where the Orange would face No. 8 seed Florida.

As we reported not too long ago, NCAA officials are expected to hold the 2021 Big Dance in one metropolitan region, likely Indianapolis. That’s why Lunardi has the ‘Cuse in Region 1.

This region, by the way, is stacked. Should Syracuse basketball get past the Gators in the round of 64, it would most likely entertain a match-up in the round of 32 with No. 1 seed Gonzaga, which is currently ranked No. 1 in both major top-25 polls.

Other high-quality squads in this region include No. 2 seed Kansas, No. 3 seed Illinois, No. 4 seed and 2019 national finalist Texas Tech, No. 5 seed Michigan, No. 6 seed and fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member Louisville, No. 7 seed Oregon and No. 10 seed Connecticut.

Lunardi’s four No. 1 seeds, if you’re wondering, are the aforementioned Gonzaga, Iowa, which smoked the Orange in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge a stanza ago, Baylor and Villanova.

Syracuse basketball is one of numerous ACC teams in the most recent ESPN bracketology.

In the last term, the ACC was expected to get only four or five bids to the NCAA Tournament. That number almost certainly will go up come next March.

Lunardi presently has nine ACC groups in his mock bracket, trailing only the loaded Big Ten Conference, which has gained a whopping 10 invites.

Within the ACC, Lunardi’s Big Dance berths go to No. 4 seed Virginia, No. 4 seed and 2019-20 league winner Florida State, No. 5 seed Duke, No. 6 seed North Carolina, No. 6 seed Louisville, No. 7 seed Clemson, No. 9 seed Syracuse basketball, No. 11 seed Virginia Tech and No. 11 seed N.C. State.

It speaks to the topsy-turvy start for the ACC that no conference crew is better than a No. 4 seed. Oh, and Clemson fell for the first time in 2020-21 on Tuesday night to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.

Okay, I won’t rant and rave too much on this, but Lunardi has a 1-4 Kentucky team in his “first four out” category. I get that Kentucky is Kentucky, and I’m sure the Wildcats will right their ship, but that’s totally ridiculous.

Two other New York state squads are in Lunardi’s mock field of 68. They are No. 15 seed Colgate and No. 15 seed Hofstra.