Strange As It Sounds... Syracuse Is The Best Team In The Country

It seems weird to say this about a Syracuse team. Not because this year’s squad isn’t great, or even because of the ‘Cuse teams in recent years. They were solid, too. In fact, if you had to describe Syracuse teams in years past, or even Syracuse as a program, that would be the word: Solid. But never completely dominant.

You always got the feeling that Syracuse’s success was a function of that 2-3 Zone, one or two good players, and a great coach in Jim Boeheim. You could never overlook Syracuse, but you never really feared them, either. Even the year the Orangemen wound up winning the national title, they were a 3-seed.

But tonight, Syracuse almost certainly locked up a 1-seed for the NCAA Tournament, and might just have played their way into the number one ranking in America. And while those distinctions are essentially meaningless as the real proving ground--the NCAA Tournament--draws near, here’s what matters: ‘Cuse deserves it. It feels completely appropriate. This Syracuse team is not like those old Syracuse teams. There’s no gimmick defenses winning games for them, and instead of one Carmelo Anthony, it’s a team that goes 5 or 6 deep with capable stars. Tonight, at least, they were completely dominant.

When the polls are released next week, Syracuse will likely be listed as the number one team in the country, and it’s no accident. The team is 14-2 in the Big East. With Wesley Johnson, Andy Rautins, Rick Jackson, Scoop Jardine... Well, with their entire rotation, Syracuse has a offensive core that strikes fear into opponents, and pairing that with the legendary 2-3 zone that’s been vexing opponents for years, Syracuse is the most complete team in the country.

Jim Boeheim has always had a quality program at Syracuse, and again, it’s not that the teams of the past were bad. But save for that magical run in 2003, they were never this good. Syracuse is about to be ranked number one in the country, and it’s not some fluke of the polls. Kansas and Kentucky both have the pedigree, but as we move toward March, Syracuse might just be the most imposing of anyone.