I am the first to acknowledge that pre-season prognostications from myself and anyone else out there are basically guesses at this juncture, but where one national writer has placed Syracuse basketball in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s pecking order makes no sense to me.
A panel of experts over at CBS Sports has published a piece where these journalists and analysts predict the order of finish within the ACC standings as the 2021-22 regular season is nearly upon us.
One of those national writers, David Cobb, has the Orange situated at No. 12 in the 15-team ACC. Cobb projects that the league members who will finish below the ‘Cuse in the ACC race are Wake Forest, Boston College and Pittsburgh.
Say what? I don’t want to disrespect Cobb in the least, but I have a hard time imagining a scenario where the Orange is No. 12 in the ACC this season when all is said and done.
Let’s see which teams are predicted to be ahead of Syracuse basketball.
In taking their individual votes and making a collective forecast, the folks at CBS Sports project that Duke will finish No. 1, followed by North Carolina, Florida State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Notre Dame and then the ‘Cuse at No. 8 in the conference.
I can deal with a prediction of No. 8 for Syracuse basketball. In the recently released ACC pre-season media poll, the Orange is No. 7. For me, I feel like a lot of national pundits are under-valuing the ‘Cuse, and Syracuse basketball is primed to finish in the ACC’s top five or top six.
Of course, the Orange will have an opportunity to prove itself on the court in the near future. For context, the five CBS Sports experts have Syracuse basketball at No. 7 three times, No. 9 and No. 12.
It’s understandable why numerous analysts, commentators and journalists are viewing the ‘Cuse as a middle-of-the-pack team within the ACC.
For one, Syracuse basketball lost multiple players during the off-season, due to guys moving on for professional aspirations or because they hit the transfer portal.
As a result, the Orange did bring in three transfers of its own, and all three of them are veteran players, but they’re also new to the Syracuse basketball system.
Secondly, the ‘Cuse in recent years hasn’t fared so hot in the ACC standings, often finishing near the middle. I get why Syracuse basketball is forecast by some experts to wrap up the 2021-22 regular season around the middle of the ACC standings yet again.
I’m a homer, and I’m a Syracuse University alum. But something tells me that the Orange is going to prove sneaky good this year and surprise the pundits.
Syracuse basketball senior shooting guard Buddy Boeheim has a lofty goal for the ‘Cuse as far as the ACC race is concerned. I don’t know if the Orange will attain Boeheim’s objective, but I can’t envision Syracuse basketball finishing near the league’s basement, either.