Syracuse Basketball: Analyzing metrics of non-conference results, look ahead to ACC play

Syracuse basketball gets into the heart of its Atlantic Coast Conference schedule beginning this Saturday afternoon, when the Orange hosts long-time rival Pittsburgh.

The ‘Cuse, after recently defeating Niagara on the Hill, wrapped up its challenging non-conference slate at 9-2. Couple with an early December loss at Virginia, the Orange currently sits at 9-3 overall.

For the time being, the ‘Cuse isn’t showing up in mock brackets for the 2024 NCAA Tournament, but the Orange will have ample opportunities coming up to notch high-quality wins and enter the conversation for this spring’s Big Dance.

When I wrote this article, the ‘Cuse had an NCAA NET ranking of No. 83, and Syracuse basketball checked in at No. 86 nationally via KenPom.

From a metrics standpoint, the Orange’s best victory to date is a neutral-site conquering of Oregon earlier this month. Syracuse basketball doesn’t possess any “bad” losses, having fallen to the Cavaliers on the road, as well as to Tennessee and Gonzaga on a neutral floor in Honolulu.

Here's an explanation of the four quadrants that are used as it relates to the NET ratings.

Let’s review the metrics of Syracuse basketball past foes and future opponents.

While these data points will fluctuate all the time, when I penned this column, these are the NET rankings and KenPom ratings for every one of the Orange’s 2023-24 regular-season foes.

•New Hampshire at the Dome on November 6
Win, NCAA NET Ranking: No. 156, KenPom: No. 223

•Canisius at the Dome on November 8
Win, NCAA NET Ranking: No. 137, KenPom: No. 178

•Colgate at the Dome on November 14
Win, NCAA NET Ranking: No. 148, KenPom: No. 154

•Tennessee at the 2023 Maui Jim Maui Invitational in Honolulu on November 20
Loss, NCAA NET Ranking: No. 7, KenPom: No. 6

•Gonzaga at the Maui Invitational on November 21
Loss, NCAA NET Ranking: No. 45, KenPom: No. 20

•Chaminade at the Maui Invitational on November 22
Win, NCAA NET Ranking: NA, KenPom: NA

•LSU at the Dome on November 28 (ACC/SEC Challenge)
Win, NCAA NET Ranking: No. 154, KenPom: No. 104

•At Virginia on December 2
Loss, NCAA NET Ranking: No. 37, KenPom: No. 39

•Cornell at the Dome on December 5
Win, NCAA NET Ranking: No. 93, KenPom: No. 121

•At Georgetown on December 9
Win, NCAA NET Ranking: No. 205, KenPom: No. 183

•Oregon in Sioux Falls, S.D., on December 17
Win, NCAA NET Ranking: No. 68, KenPom: No. 48

•Niagara at the Dome on December 21
Win, NCAA NET Ranking: No. 329, KenPom: No. 319

•Pittsburgh at the Dome on December 30
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 39, KenPom: No. 44

•At Duke on January 2
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 18, KenPom: No. 7

•Boston College at the Dome on January 10
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 74, KenPom: No. 87

•At North Carolina on January 13
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 26, KenPom: No. 15

•At Pittsburgh on January 16
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 39, KenPom: No. 44

•Miami at the Dome on January 20
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 61, KenPom: No. 64

•Florida State at the Dome on January 23
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 124, KenPom: No. 97

•N.C. State at the Dome on January 27
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 70, KenPom: No. 74

•At Boston College on January 30
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 74, KenPom: No. 87

•At Wake Forest on February 3
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 77, KenPom: No. 58

•Louisville at the Dome on February 7
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 262, KenPom: No. 188

•Clemson at the Dome on February 10
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 12, KenPom: No. 26

•North Carolina at the Dome on February 13
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 26, KenPom: No. 15

•At Georgia Tech on February 17
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 114, KenPom: No. 110

•At N.C. State on February 20
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 70, KenPom: No. 74

•Notre Dame at the Dome on February 24
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 240, KenPom: No. 224

•Virginia Tech at the Dome on February 27
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 50, KenPom: No. 49

•At Louisville on March 2
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 262, KenPom: No. 188

•At Clemson on March 5
NCAA NET Ranking: No. 12, KenPom: No. 26