Joe Lunardi Shares Insights on Syracuse Basketball and NCAA Tournament Prospects

Joe Lunardi, renowned bracketologist for ESPN, recently shared his insights on the Syracuse basketball team. He attended Syracuse’s game against St. Joseph’s, where the Orange secured a 71-63 victory. Lunardi, a St. Joseph’s graduate himself, has faced criticism from Syracuse fans regarding his projections of their postseason chances.

Current Season Performance

As of now, Syracuse holds a 6-3 record. They achieved a significant win against Tennessee and came close to defeating Houston. However, the team experienced losses against ranked opponents Kansas and Iowa State. Lunardi commented on their performance, highlighting their near-miss opportunities, especially a tough overtime loss to Houston, where Syracuse missed 17 free throws.

Key Takeaways from Lunardi

• Syracuse is missing its leading scorer, Donnie Freeman, due to a lower body injury.
• Lunardi sees potential in the current team, mentioning they are “in the makings of a tournament team.”
• He urges that Syracuse needs to secure important wins within the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) for better postseason positioning.

Lunardi emphasized that the current structure of the ACC provides Syracuse with ample opportunities to enhance their resume. According to him, the situation is more favorable compared to previous years when being ranked low in the ACC was detrimental to postseason hopes.

Statistical Insights

Syracuse’s stats are as follows:

Lunardi noted that the NCAA considers these metrics when determining teams for the postseason. While it’s still early in the season, his insights provide Syracuse fans with a reason to remain hopeful about their tournament prospects.