Syracuse basketball has legit shot to make March Madness 2nd weekend

The competition in the NCAA Tournament is always fierce, and the event’s 2021 version carries on that annual theme for Syracuse basketball and the other 67 teams that were selected for the field on Sunday evening.

The No. 11 seed Orange, squaring off with No. 6 seed San Diego State this coming Friday night in a Midwest Region round of 64 battle, is a dangerous squad in the Big Dance, because its 2-3 zone defense is difficult to prepare for, particularly if a ‘Cuse opponent hasn’t played against this type of defense much, or even at all, during the season.

The Aztecs will present a formidable challenge for the Orange, because San Diego State shoots well from beyond the arc, and it also rebounds and plays defense at a high level. Still, I believe that the ‘Cuse has a terrific chance to upset the Aztecs and move on to the round of 32.

Looking at this region a bit more in-depth, it won’t prove easy for Syracuse basketball to make it past the first weekend, but it’s not completely out of the question. Frankly, I think that the Orange has a fairly decent draw.

Syracuse basketball is primed for a deep Big Dance journey.

The Midwest Region contains some familiar foes for the ‘Cuse, and a ton of excellent squads. If the Orange beats San Diego State, it could square off with former Big East Conference participant and No. 3 seed West Virginia in the round of 32.

Also in the Syracuse basketball half of the Midwest Region bracket are No. 2 seed Houston, No. 7 seed Clemson and No. 10 seed Rutgers. The ‘Cuse split with Clemson in 2020-21, and the Orange lost on the road to Rutgers by 10 points in the non-conference slate, albeit without junior shooting guard Buddy Boeheim.

Given how Syracuse basketball is playing of late, the ‘Cuse absolutely could fare well against Clemson or Rutgers. Second-seeded Houston would be a tough match-up for the Orange, but not an impossible one.

Now, on the top of half of this region are, among others, No. 1 seed Illinois and No. 4 seed Oklahoma State. I don’t envision Syracuse basketball besting either of those heavyweights.

A trip to the Big Dance’s second weekend, though, is in the cards for the ‘Cuse, which has gone 7-3 over its last three NCAA Tournament appearances in 2016, 2018 and 2019.

The only other instance where the Orange landed a No. 11 seed in March Madness came in 2018. In that tourney, the ‘Cuse knocked off fellow No. 11 seed Arizona State in the First Four, followed by No. 6 seed TCU in the round of 64, and No. 3 seed Michigan State in the round of 32. Syracuse basketball would then fall in the Sweet 16 to No. 2 seed Duke.

The Orange has a lot of momentum riding into the 2021 Big Dance, and it wouldn’t come as a surprise to me if the ‘Cuse remains in the field over the second weekend or beyond.