Early bracketology says Syracuse basketball won’t sweat Selection Sunday

I fully acknowledge that bracketology projections for the 2022 NCAA Tournament at this juncture for Syracuse basketball and its peers around the country are really premature, but they’re also fun, nonetheless.

By all accounts, the Orange’s roster for the 2021-22 campaign is pretty well set, save for perhaps a change or two. And ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi, who has a love-hate relationship with ‘Cuse fans, believes that Syracuse basketball should make the field of 68 with room to spare.

Lunardi recently published his latest version of a mock bracket, and the Orange won’t have to sweat out Selection Sunday if his assumptions ultimately prove correct.

In the East Region, Lunardi has Syracuse basketball pegged as a No. 6 seed, with the ‘Cuse taking on No. 11 seed VCU in the round of 64. The victor of that battle would then face the winner of No. 3 seed Maryland and No. 14 seed Iona, led by Rick Pitino, in the round of 32.

Other notable squads in this region include No. 1 seed Alabama, guided by former Buffalo boss Nate Oats, No. 2 seed and former Big East Conference foe Villanova, No. 4 seed and fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member Duke, No. 5 seed St. Bonaventure, No. 7 seed Indiana, No. 8 seed Oregon, No. 9 seed Mississippi State, and No. 10 seed Notre Dame, also out of the ACC.

Syracuse basketball is among numerous ACC groups in ESPN’s bracketology.

All in all, Lunardi has eight ACC teams in his most recent projected field of 68. They are No. 3 seed Florida State, No. 4 seed Duke, No. 6 seed North Carolina, No. 6 seed Syracuse, No. 7 seed Virginia Tech, No. 8 seed Louisville, No. 9 seed Virginia and No. 10 seed Notre Dame.

The four No. 1 seeds, according to Lunardi, are Gonzaga, UCLA, Kansas and Alabama. In this recently concluded Big Dance, Gonzaga and UCLA engaged in an epic Final Four encounter, with Gonzaga advancing to the championship clash, where it fell to Baylor.

As far as Empire State crews are concerned, besides the Orange, St. Bonaventure and Iona, Colgate also made the cut as a No. 13 seed, per Lunardi.

A lot can obviously happen between now and when the next term actually commences, but it’s certainly feasible that Syracuse basketball will be in line for a solid seed in the 2022 March Madness.