Where Syracuse basketball ranks among SU offenses over past 20 years

Throughout the 2021-22 campaign, Syracuse basketball has shown, by and large, that it can score at a stellar level.

Heading into the current season, head coach Jim Boeheim praised the offensive potential of this group. He recently said that the Orange is one of the best offensive squads in all of college basketball, and I wholeheartedly agree with him.

The ‘Cuse (13-11, 7-6), after dispatching of Boston College on the road earlier this week, is riding a four-game winning streak. Yes, the Orange zone defense has been inconsistent in 2021-22.

But scoring points is rarely an issue for this Syracuse basketball roster. At present, the ‘Cuse is averaging 78.2 points per encounter, which is near the top of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Per ESPN statistics, the Orange is connecting on 45.8 percent from the field as a whole, 38.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 72.9 percent from the charity stripe. Those are pretty darn good numbers, in my humble opinion.

But where does this Syracuse basketball squad rank among other elite ‘Cuse offenses?

At the time of this writing, the Orange was No. 14 nationally via KenPom in adjusted offensive efficiency. That metric, according to the kenpom.com Web site, is “an estimate of the offensive efficiency (points scored per 100 possessions) a team would have against the average D-I defense.”

KenPom lists adjusted offensive efficiency dating back to the 2001-02 season. From then until now, only four other Syracuse basketball units have checked in at No. 14 or better across the country in adjusted offensive efficiency.

In 2004-05, the ‘Cuse was No. 14, in a stanza where the Orange fell in the NCAA Tournament’s round of 64. In 2008-09, Syracuse basketball won 28 contests and made the Sweet 16. It was rated No. 10.

My two favorite Syracuse basketball squads in recent memory were the 2009-10 and the 2011-12 teams. In 2009-10, an Orange group that went 30-5 and reached the Sweet 16 was rated No. 6.

The 2011-12 ‘Cuse team was ridiculous, going 30-1 in the regular season, advancing to the Elite Eight and finishing at 34-3 overall. That Syracuse basketball squad was No. 7 nationwide in adjusted offensive efficiency.

Now, when I penned this column, the Orange in 2021-22 had an adjusted defensive efficiency of No. 221, which is awful. Many, many other ‘Cuse teams dating back to 2001-02 have fared much better in that department.

It will be interesting to see where Syracuse basketball ends 2021-22 in adjusted offensive efficiency, and where it rates among Orange squads over the past two decades.

For comparison’s sake, see below for the adjusted offensive efficiency of every ‘Cuse group going back to the 2001-02 term.

2021-22
14

2020-21
24

2019-20
21

2018-19
59

2017-18
135

2016-17
30

2015-16
50

2014-15
117

2013-14
28

2012-13
26

2011-12
7

2010-11
24

2009-10
6

2008-09
10

2007-08
43

2006-07
60

2005-06
60

2004-05
14

2003-04
31

2002-03
17

2001-02
114