Syracuse: 19-12, 9-9 in the ACC
Head Coach: Jim Boeheim
Leading Scorer: Michael Gbinije (17.6 PPG)
Season Recap: The Orange enter the ACC tournament dangerously under-seeded after the team went just 4-5 while head coach Jim Boeheim was away serving a nine-game suspension, including an 0-3 start to league action. Syracuse has emerged a stronger, more formidable team since Boeheim’s return, notching wins against Duke and Notre Dame. Redshirt seniors Michael Gbinije and Trevor Cooney guide the Orange on the court, averaging a combined 30.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game.
Freshman Malachi Richardson has also stepped up in a big way, bringing his shooting prowess to the Syracuse backcourt alongside Cooney. The Orange have struggled to establish themselves on the boards in their losses, and head into the tournament on a two-game skid during which they were out rebounded 83-60. Junior forward Tyler Roberson provides a strong body inside capable of snagging misses, but Syracuse lacks the overall size to go toe-to-toe with some of the ACC’s bigger teams. Boeheim’s squad can pride itself on how it pulled together to save the season, but the group will need to showcase its consistency moving forward if it hopes to make a deep run for the ACC title.
How They Make a Run: Boeheim's traditional 2-3 zone makes life difficult for opposing teams, and Roberson asserts himself on the glass with support from the rest of the Orange. On the other end of the court, Gbinije heats up from the field in his last ACC tournament appearance while the ever-streaky Cooney gets rolling as well.
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