Syracuse basketball is ranked in the AP preseason top-25. Why are expectations so high and who will lead the way for the Orange this season?
Syracuse basketball has been one of the most consistent programs in the nation for what seems like forever. Head coach Jim Boeheim is now entering his 43rd season at the helm of the program and the amount of success he has had it outrageous. He has made the NCAA Tournament 33 times and also owns one national championship during that stretch. Quite simply, there are very few programs in the country who are as successful.
And, as we look ahead to the 2018-19 season, the Orange should once again be in for a big year. This is due to the fact that just about every major contributor from last season’s NCAA Tournament team is back for more this season. Syracuse reached the Sweet 16 a year ago despite being just a No. 11 seed they will be held in much higher regard this time around.
In fact, Syracuse was ranked at No. 16 in the preseason AP poll for this season due to the abundance of returning talent both on the court and on the sidelines. And while the ACC will be an incredibly challenging conference to win this season due the presences of Duke, Virginia, and North Carolina (among others), it would be a mistake to count out the ‘Cuse.
If all goes according to plan this season, Syracuse should compete near the top of the ACC and land a high seed in the NCAA Tournament. Of course, the end goal, though, will be to cut down the nets in April.
So, with this being said, let’s dive into previewing the upcoming campaign for head coach Jim Boeheim’s team.