Heartbreak City: Syracuse basketball has been so close, so many times

I recognize that we live in a society where wins and losses matter the most, at least to most Syracuse basketball fans.

That’s fair. The Orange (15-15, 9-10) will suit up against Miami on the Hill this coming Saturday afternoon and then head off to Brooklyn, N.Y., for the 2022 ACC Tournament.

We all know that the ‘Cuse is in danger of having its first losing season under head coach Jim Boeheim. The 2021-22 campaign has proven frustrating for sure, and a lot of Orange fans have understandably made that known on social media and in chat rooms in recent weeks.

On Monday night, the ‘Cuse hung tough in Chapel, N.C., with a solid North Carolina group that is fighting for its NCAA Tournament life. Let’s be honest, Syracuse basketball probably should have won that Atlantic Coast Conference clash but fell in overtime, 88-79.

But as is seemingly par for the course in 2021-22, the Orange couldn’t close out an opponent. After this setback, Boeheim praised his team’s “unbelievable effort” and added, “I couldn’t be more proud of these guys.” I’m right there with you, Coach B.

Syracuse basketball, most of the time, is staying close with its foes.

Boeheim noted that, save for the two lopsided losses to ACC leader Duke, the Orange has “battled every other game right down to the wire.”

I would counter that besides the Blue Devils, Syracuse basketball has gotten beat pretty well by a couple of other league adversaries, but the larger premise of what Boeheim is getting at is something for which I adamantly concur.

The ‘Cuse roster in 2021-22 may lack athleticism, and this squad is bad on defense. But the Orange is a few plays here and there from potentially being in the conversation for an at-large invite to the upcoming March Madness.

Case in point, the ‘Cuse lost to the Tar Heels on the road in overtime. In another recent duel, Syracuse basketball was basically right there at Notre Dame until the end.

Earlier in 2021-22, the Orange fell at Georgetown by four points, at home to Virginia by five points, at Miami by one point, at Wake Forest in overtime by three points, and to Florida State by five points from the Carrier Dome.

That’s five setbacks by a combined 18 points. Throw in the UNC and Notre Dame games, and that’s seven contests that Syracuse basketball could have won.

To be fair, the Orange defeated the likes of Florida State, Indiana, N.C. State and Georgia Tech by small margins, so some of those outcomes could have been losses instead of victories.

Shoulda, coulda, woulda. I get it. The ‘Cuse, oftentimes, has struggled to seal the deal in close encounters. Without question, the Orange could be looking at, say, an 18-12 mark heading into its Saturday showdown with the Hurricanes.

But, alas, Syracuse basketball is 15-15. I acknowledge there are no moral victories in collegiate hoops. Regardless of the team’s record, however, Boeheim is proud of his players. I am, too.