Syracuse Basketball: I'm a homer, but there aren't 10 better teams in ACC than 'Cuse

In fewer than three weeks, Syracuse basketball will commence its 2024-25 campaign, the program's second season with Adrian Autry at the helm of the Orange.

It's true that the 'Cuse missed the NCAA Tournament in 2023-24 for the third straight year. It's also true that, a term ago, Autry guided Syracuse basketball to 20 regular-season wins for the first time in a decade, while having a roster primarily composed of sophomores, a tough non-conference docket, two key players injured, and another key player dismissed from the program this past February.

To me, the Orange had a successful first campaign under Autry, although he, his top-flight staff and their players have their sights set on reaching March Madness come the spring of next year.

As 2024-25 inches closer, numerous national and Atlantic Coast Conference pundits don't appear super high on Syracuse basketball. But that's why the games are played, and I believe that the 'Cuse will fare better than some experts are opining.

Syracuse basketball isn't getting a lot of preseason love from college hoops observers.

I'm the first to acknowledge that preseason prognostications are rather silly. But in any event, the ACC's preseason media poll, released on Tuesday, forecasts the Orange to finish at No. 11 in the league's standings in 2024-25. The ACC, this term, has 18 members in college basketball, with the additions of California, SMU and Stanford.

Not too long ago, CBS Sports panelists projected the 'Cuse at No. 12 in the ACC's pecking order. On3 national analyst/scout Jamie Shaw, in his preview of this year's ACC race, puts Syracuse basketball at No. 10.

In his preseason "Power 37" rankings disclosed this week, national expert Andy Katz has the Orange in his "under consideration" category, listed second behind Virginia. KenPom, in recent days, published its preseason ratings, placing Syracuse basketball at No. 68 overall.

When the preseason Associated Press top-25 poll was recently unveiled, the 'Cuse wasn't included, nor did the team receive any votes. To reiterate, I'm taking these preseason predictions with the proverbial grain of salt.

I do understand the skepticism regarding the Orange. The program hasn't been to the Big Dance since 2021. This off-season, seven players hit the transfer portal, and former point guard Judah Mintz pursued a professional career.

Syracuse basketball coaches hauled in a 2024 recruiting class that includes four college transfers and three incoming freshmen. So for the 'Cuse, its roster has seen a significant overhaul, but that's also the case for many squads around the country.

To me, the Orange's 2024-25 roster, which has 12 scholarship players, possesses a lot of talent and potential. Key starters like J.J. Starling and Chris Bell returned. Hopefully, wing Chance Westry and center Naheem McLeod are fully healthy.

Every one of the team's incoming transfers is ranked four stars by at least one recruiting service. Power forward Donnie Freeman was a consensus five-star prospect in the 2024 cycle, while Elijah Moore was a top-10 shooting guard in that class.

I think the main talking point here is that all of us - including the ACC and national pundits - simply don't know how to accurately size up the Syracuse basketball 2024-25 roster, because there are so many new faces. That being said, the 'Cuse line-up for this coming campaign is much more veteran than a term ago, which I think is a positive for the program.

We'll all know more soon. And with all due respect to these various experts, I can't envision that the Orange will ultimately finish at No. 11 within the ACC standings in 2024-25.