ACC Basketball: Updated preseason rankings for 2018-19

Syracuse was largely disappointing this past season but surprisingly found themselves on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble (again) and rode their stingy defense all the way to the Sweet 16.

The Orange return every major contributor from that team led by Tyus Battle (who tested draft waters), Frank Howard, and Oshae Brissett, all of whom averaged at least 14.4 points per game. However, the problem for Syracuse was the contributions they got from everyone else – which was virtually nothing.

Every other returning player averaged fewer than six points per game and head coach Jim Boeheim’s squad had major problems because of it, ranking just 135th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency (third-worst in the conference).

Syracuse may get some help in that regard in top-60 recruit Jalen Cary and some needed shooting from Buddy Boeheim, Jim’s son, but those are the only real additions they made.

This group will be better offensively than last year, yet it will still be a problem for them. Their defense will be more than good enough to keep them well off the bubble this season but they won’t be among the elite teams unless they prove they can score consistently.