The Syracuse Orange overcame a brutal end of their conference schedule and were still able to secure an at-large bid thanks to a pair of wins over Duke and Louisville. Jim Boeheim has made a habit of crafting deep runs in the Big Dance amid skepticism over whether his team actually belongs in the field. Can Boeheim's squad overcome losses in five of its last seven games and put together another long ride in the dance?
ESPN+ has your answers, as Joe Lunardi has enlisted a team of bracketologists to compile advanced metrics, key scouting intel and best- and worst-case tournament scenarios for all 68 teams to help you make smart picks in your bracket.
TOURNEY PROFILE
Best wins: vs. Northeastern, vs. Clemson, at Duke
Worst losses: Connecticut, vs. Georgia Tech
Regular season conference finish: seventh, ACC
Polls and metrics: BPI ranked the Orange at No. 33 as of March 10, while KenPom had them slightly lower at No. 35. The NCAA's new NET ranking had Syracuse at No. 43 in its most recent release.
All-time tourney record: 68-39 (6 Final Fours, 1 National Championship)
Coach (tourney record): Jim Boeheim (60-32)
PERSONNEL
(Note: Player statistics are through games of March 14.)
Starting lineup
C Paschal Chukwu (4.3 PPG, 1.8 BPG)
F Elijah Hughes (13.4 PPG, 4.4 RPG)
F Oshae Brissett (12.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG)
G Frank Howard (8.9 PPG, 2.9 APG)
G Tyus Battle (17.2 PPG, 2.5 APG)
Key bench players
F Marek Dolezaj (4.1 PPG, 3.6 RPG)
G Buddy Boeheim (6.5 PPG, 1.6 RPG)
G Jalen Carey (3.6 PPG, 1.6 RPG)
Biggest strength: For the third time in the past four years, the Orange have one of the top 25 most efficient defenses in the country. Boeheim's suffocating 2-3 zone forces opponents to grind through the shot clock and often take bad shots. Syracuse has the nation's tallest roster, and that length has them forcing more turnovers than a year ago, ranking in the top 10 in defensive steal and block percentage.
Biggest weakness: Missed perimeter shots in the 2-3 zone often result in loose rebounds, making the Orange particularly vulnerable on the defensive glass. Syracuse ranks in the bottom 20 in opposing offensive rebound percentage. The Orange also foul more than a team that goes seven deep probably should. At the other end, they were the second-worst free throw shooting team in the ACC, making tight games interesting.
Best player: Battle. The junior guard missed both ACC tournament games after coming down hard on his back in the regular season finale at Clemson. He's expected back for the NCAA tourney and Cuse needs him. The Orange battled against Duke but clearly missed their leading scorer and go-to guy. Battle has demonstrated a knack for knocking down big shots throughout his career. Expect that trend to continue in the Big Dance.
X factor: Chukwu. The lanky 7-footer was key in the Orange's tournament run a year ago. He's limited offensively, but when he's active, the 2-3 zone is at its best. His mere presence allows Syracuse to have a chance at 50-50 balls and limit opposing offensive rebounds. Chukwu tends to struggle with more physical, athletic bigs, and he will need to elevate his play for the Orange to go on another run.
SCOUTING REPORT
How they beat you: Efficiency at both ends of the floor. The Orange are a good, but not great, offensive team, but when Battle has help from Hughes and Brissett, they have shown a capability of beating almost anyone (including Duke). Their zone is most effective when Chukwu stays out of foul trouble, and when that happens they have the potential to be even better than their already impressive numbers suggest.
How you beat them: Good ball movement and fast-paced tempo. There are open looks to be had if opponents are patient and have savvy ball handlers. The Orange would rather not get into an 80- or 90-point game, so getting out and running in transition when opportunities present themselves doesn't hurt either.
WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY
(Note: All statistics in this section are courtesy of kenpom.com and are accurate through games of March 14.)
NATIONAL RANKS
Offensive efficiency, 61st (110.3)
Defensive efficiency, 24th (94.0)
3-point percentage, 246th (33.0)
3-point percentage D, 64th (32.3)
Free throw rate, 74th (36.8)
Free throw rate D, 228th (34.8)
TO percentage, 169th (18.4)
TO percentage D, 10th (23.2)
HOW FAR WILL THEY GO?
Best-case scenario: Sweet 16
The Orange have demonstrated time and time again just how effective their zone can be and that they can beat almost anyone on any given night when it's working. Familiarity with the 2-3 in a loaded ACC is a little different than seeing it for the first time with a small prep window. Combine that with the valuable experience of Battle and several others who have been here before and Syracuse will likely win a couple of games.
Worst-case scenario: One and done
If Cuse loses early it will most likely be because its offense is bogged down and unable to get easy points off of Battle's dribble penetration and foul line trips. At the other end, if an opponent has a big night from the perimeter and dominates the offensive glass, that may be too much for Boeheim's guys to handle.