Syracuse basketball awaits its seeding for next week’s ACC Tournament in Washington, D.C., as other league squads finish up their 2023-24 regular seasons this weekend.
The Orange doesn’t have a game this Saturday. This past Tuesday night, the ‘Cuse fell by 15 points at Clemson to wrap up its regular season at 20-11 overall and 11-9 in Atlantic Coast Conference competition.
Experts opine that the Orange must likely win the ACC Tournament to gain an invite to this spring’s Big Dance. Regardless, first-year head coach Adrian Autry has done a remarkable job in his inaugural campaign leading the Syracuse basketball program.
Picked to finish at No. 10 in the conference standings, per the ACC’s preseason media poll, the Orange will either be the No. 5 seed, the No. 6 seed or the No. 7 seed in the ACC Tournament. Syracuse basketball also tallied 20 regular-season victories for the first time in a decade.
In the coming days, the All-ACC teams and other conference awards will be unveiled, and I think that several ‘Cuse players are in the running for these honors.
Which Syracuse basketball players could win ACC superlatives for 2023-24?
All-ACC First or Second Team
Sophomore point guard Judah Mintz
Mintz is averaging 18.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He’s making 43.9 percent from the field, 29.3 percent from deep and 76.5 percent from the free-throw line. I think Mintz may be a bit of a long shot to make the first team, but I think he’s a virtual lock to make the second squad.
All-ACC Honorable Mention
Sophomore guard J.J. Starling
Starling is averaging 13.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. He’s making 46.0 percent from the field, 32.6 percent from deep and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Sophomore forward Chris Bell
Bell is averaging 12.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. He’s making 42.9 percent from the field, 41.5 percent from deep and 84.2 percent from the free-throw line.
Sophomore big man Maliq Brown
Brown is averaging 9.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game. He’s making 69.3 percent from the field, 37.5 percent from deep and 72.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Could Starling, Bell or Brown make the All-ACC third team? I guess it’s possible, but I think it’s more likely that they contend for honorable-mention nods.
ACC Player of the Year
Mintz – he’s not going to win this award but could pick up some votes.
Defensive Player of the Year
Mintz and Brown – both are among the ACC leaders in steals per game, and Brown is a strong rebounder. Neither will win this honor, but both could get votes.
All-Defensive Team
Mintz and Brown – it wouldn’t surprise me if one of these two players is named to this squad.
Most Improved Player
Bell, Brown and sophomore wing Quadir Copeland
Copeland is averaging 9.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He’s making 48.1 percent from the field, 25.6 percent from deep and 67.8 percent from the free-throw line.
All three have a legit case to receive votes for this award. Who has the best shot to win it? That’s tough. It’s a close call.
Sixth Man of the Year
Copeland – he absolutely, positively should be high up in the voting for this honor. Is there really a better sixth man in the ACC than Quadir? I’m a homer, but I don’t believe so.
Coach of the Year
Adrian Autry – if he doesn’t get a sizable number of votes for this award, that would surprise me. He replaced a Hall of Famer in Jim Boeheim, his roster is primarily sophomores, he’s had to deal with injuries and a player being dismissed from the program, and yet Autry won 20 regular-season games. Those triumphs included a victory over top-10 North Carolina and sweeps of both N.C. State and Pittsburgh. The Orange was forecast to finish 10th in the ACC and could end up finishing as high as No. 5.