Syracuse Basketball: Colgate loss was telling, but season is far from over

Man oh man, social media was a journey through negative town after Syracuse basketball fell by 15 points to Colgate on Saturday night in Central New York, the Orange’s first loss to the Patriot League’s Raiders in decades.

Look, I get the frustration. Concern about this ‘Cuse team entering the 2021-22 stanza, from my perspective, seemed to center on the 2-3 zone, rebounding and a perceived lack of athleticism.

It would appear that Colgate exposed all three of those areas in turning a 15-point, first-half deficit into a 100-85 trouncing of the Orange (2-1).

To make things more challenging, the ‘Cuse now has to travel to the Bahamas for an early season tournament where it plays VCU and then two other tough non-conference contests.

Syracuse basketball still has plenty of games left to show what it can do.

I always respect my fellow fans’ opinions, even if I disagree with their takes. But following the Orange’s setback to Colgate, some of those said takes were pretty over the top.

This season is over, some said. The ‘Cuse is headed to the NIT. Head coach Jim Boeheim should be fired. Losing to the Raiders is the most embarrassing outcome ever. This is the worst Syracuse basketball roster ever. The sky is falling. The sky is falling!

I was certainly bummed by the Orange’s first defeat of 2021-22. And if the ‘Cuse doesn’t shore up its defense and rebounding efforts, this could prove a long season.

But that’s also exactly my point. It’s a long season. Syracuse basketball has only played three games. The squad has 28 more to go, and that’s not counting the 2022 ACC Tournament and any possible post-season invites.

Could this year’s Orange be destined for the NIT? Perhaps. Might the 2-3 zone prove unreliable, at best, in 2021-22? Perhaps. Is the season already over? Absolutely not. Should Boeheim get canned? Lol. Come on, friends.

He has the second-most career victories in the history of Division I men’s hoops. He’s been to 20 Sweet 16s, seven Elite Eights, five Final Fours and three national championship games, and Boeheim cut down the nets in 2003.

Plus, in his previous 45 stanzas at the helm on the Hill, Boeheim has never produced a losing season. Yes, falling to Colgate at home was unfortunate, but the Raiders are a good team. With multiple shooters and disciplined passing, Colgate is a bad match-up for the ‘Cuse defense.

For me, it’s not that Syracuse basketball lost to the Raiders and got punched in the mouth along the way. What I’m looking to see is how the Orange responds.

Adversity can help build character, and how the ‘Cuse fares this week in the Bahamas could prove telling.