The Orange aren’t going to the NCAA Tournament. Two weeks go, that statement would have sparked controversy. Not anymore. Syracuse likely has to win the ACC Tournament to secure a tournament bid on selection Sunday. Fans have responded to that in different ways. Some have decided not to watch the team with an emphasis on next season, while others are holding out hope for a miracle run in Greensboro.
Here are three reasons why the remaining Orange games are must see TV.
Here comes Quincy
Expectations were high when Quincy Guerrier arrived to Syracuse. Guerrier had a chance to be a one and done player, at least in the mind of former NBA scout Wes Brown. After a bumpy start to the season, Guerrier is starting to turn a corner. He recently finished the best stretch of his career, scoring 10+ points in four straight games. Guerrier has been a major bright spot in the Orange’s toughest stretch of the season. Let’s see what he can do to finish out a promising freshman campaign. This program needs Guerrier to be even better next year than he’s been lately.
Elijah Hughes’ last dance?
With the way Hughes has been playing this year, there’s a significant chance this is his final season with the Orange. Hughes has put up great numbers this year and is now firmly on the radar of NBA scouts everywhere. The ECU transfer’s 18.6 points per game leads the ACC.
What can’t this guy do? He’s gotten the attention of ACC fans everywhere. He’d be a real player of the year candidate if the Orange were better than 8-8 in the conference. Even with SU struggling, he still has a chance. Enjoy Hughes’ play while you can.
A lot of returners
While Hughes may leave, many others aren’t going anywhere. He’s the only starter that the Orange could potentially lose. Currently, Kadary Richmond and Woody Newton are slated to join the Orange as freshman. Newton, a power forward, is listed at 6-foot-8. That means Syracuse will still have a center problem next year. So watching Jesse Edwards’ improvement the rest of the way will be interesting. He looked sharp in limited minutes against Louisville. Will he get extra minutes down the stretch?
