Syracuse Orange: 2021-22 was pretty rough for Big 5 ‘Cuse sports teams

Hopefully, we’ve reached the bottom and brighter things are on the horizon for the Big 5 Syracuse Orange sports teams.

To be fair, a variety of ‘Cuse sports squads have registered tremendous accomplishments during the 2021-22 season. For the purposes of this article, though, I’ll be discussing the Syracuse basketball men’s and women’s teams, Syracuse football, and the Syracuse lacrosse men’s and women’s squads.

The latest and final chapter of 2021-22 for the Big 5 came just in the past few days, as Syracuse women’s lacrosse lost 15-4 to Northwestern in the NCAA Tournament’s quarterfinal round.

The No. 5 seed Orange, in falling to the No. 4 seed Wildcats, ended its stanza at 15-6 overall. Of course, there’s no shame in reaching the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, but I’m sure ‘Cuse players and fans had higher hopes for this team.

Syracuse Orange Big 5 sports had a rough go in 2021-22.

Men’s lacrosse, under first-year head coach and ‘Cuse legend Gary Gait, went 4-10, losing its final six contests.

Syracuse football was at 5-4 during the 2021 season, but it dropped three in a row to end that term at 5-7 while missing out on a potential post-season bowl game.

The Orange hoops squad, at 16-17, suffered its first losing campaign under head coach Jim Boeheim in his 46 years on the Hill leading the ‘Cuse.

And Syracuse women’s basketball had a ton of turnover on its roster as former head coach Quentin Hillsman resigned amid allegations of inappropriate behavior.

In 2021-22, acting head coach Vonn Read faced a really difficult situation, and the ‘Cuse went 11-18 overall.

If my math is correct, and that’s never a given, these five Orange sports programs compiled a collective 51-58 mark in 2021-22, and that’s brutal.

Nowhere to go but up, right? Syracuse University leaders have a shiny new 10-year, naming-rights partnership with Syracuse-based technology company JMA Wireless, and officials say that all of the advanced communications capabilities that the JMA Wireless Dome will eventually offer will prove as a recruiting advantage for ‘Cuse sports teams moving forward.

I would imagine that Syracuse women’s lacrosse will be positioned for a strong upcoming campaign. Gait & Co. has the No. 1 overall recruit for the next stanza.

Syracuse football brought in some excellent assistant coaches, and the Orange of course has star running back Sean Tucker and other veterans returning for 2022. The ‘Cuse, however, does own a challenging schedule come this fall.

Meanwhile, Syracuse men’s basketball returns a core group led by guard Joe Girard III, guard Symir Torrence, center Jesse Edwards and forward Benny Williams, along with a six-member 2022 recruiting cycle and Duquesne transfer Mounir Hima for additional depth at center.

Last but not least, former ‘Cuse star Felisha Legette-Jack has returned to her alma mater as the head coach of Syracuse women’s basketball. So far, she’s hauled in some stellar players to join her in Central New York.

Personally, I feel like things are going to turn around in a more positive direction for the Syracuse Orange Big 5 in the 2022-23 sports seasons.

I could be wrong, but for me, I’m hopeful that the ‘Cuse has hit its rock bottom and will soon be trending upward and outward.