Generally when we're on the bubble...

[RF2044]

...we're limping toward the finish line, hoping that we've done "enough" to qualify, or that those around us lose to bump us up.

This year feels a lot different. We're 3-1 in our last four, including a couple of very impressive blowout wins against teams that beat us earlier in the year. We've won 7 out of our last 9. We took the #1 seed in the ACCT to the wire, and lost on a buzzer beater.

This team -- which was so awful defensively earlier in the year, and so inept for long stretches offensively -- has really peaked and gotten into a groove. We're going to be a dangerous team to face in the NCAA tournament, WHEN we qualify.

 

[jdubs30]

I really wanna see what Buddy can do in the tournament

 

[syrBossHogg]

So true, feels like we haven't finished strong pre-Tourney since the 2013 BET

 

[Tom K.]

I really wanna see what Buddy can do in the tournament

He's perfect for the tournament. If he continues the hot streak into the tourney and we make a little run, he's the type of player displaced fans of other teams can root for or hate on big time. Either way it's eyeballs.

 

[ROCuse]

This is why it would be so gut wrenching if we were left out. It does feel like we have a shot at doing some damage if we get in rather than limping in like some other years.

 

[bozophobe]

I'm massively opposed to later season games, records or streaks having more value than earlier ones. So many problems with that. What if S.U. tanks later on (which does happen in some seasons)? What if other teams benefit from it, to the detriment of S.U.?

 

[upperdeck]

if you looked at the 10-12/Bubble seeds right now

Gt is playing well

MSU/Rutgers/Lou are not

Maryland/UCLA Ok

Col St/Boise/Utah st./memphis Ehh

Xavier is out

 

[dasher]

I'm massively opposed to later season games, records or streaks having more value than earlier ones. So many problems with that. What if S.U. tanks later on (which does happen in some seasons)? What if other teams benefit from it, to the detriment of S.U.?

on the other hand, they are trying to find the best teams. What says more about your team, a win in November in the a tournament or a hot finish. I want the teams playing the best at the end of the season.

 

[Cusefan0307]

on the other hand, they are trying to find the best teams. What says more about your team, a win in November in the a tournament or a hot finish. I want the teams playing the best at the end of the season.

Yeah well if they did that we would have been out in 2016 and 2018.

 

[Scooch]

I'm massively opposed to later season games, records or streaks having more value than earlier ones. So many problems with that. What if S.U. tanks later on (which does happen in some seasons)? What if other teams benefit from it, to the detriment of S.U.?

I want SU to get in. I could care less how or why.

March Madness sucks when we’re not playing in it. These are not times for moral consistency.

 

[upperdeck]

you can have a combination of both.. winning any single good game shouldnt be enough..

 

[dasher]

Yeah well if they did that we would have been out in 2016 and 2018.

We would have to check what other teams did at the end of the year. It isn't just us.

 

[Orangezoo]

In previous bubble years we had major swoons either early on or later in the season. This year we had a couple losses early then another small streak but overall nothing nearly as damning as in other bubble years. We have always been right there and finished the season on a solid note.

 

[Footey04]

I have a weird feeling we play Louisville in play in game? Is that possible?

 

[Frozen]

I have a weird feeling we play Louisville in play in game? Is that possible?

I don’t believe it is.

 

[81South]

We found our groove and have the look of a team that can advance to the second weekend.

 

[Tony DeFranco]

We can beat anyone in the tournament in a race to 4 - let alone a one game setting

 

[BomberOrange]

Nobody and I mean NOBODY will want us in the play in game!!

 

[skurey]

I have a weird feeling we play Louisville in play in game? Is that possible?

Honestly that would seem pretty fair imo.

 

[CuseBBall]

if you looked at the 10-12/Bubble seeds right now

Gt is playing well

MSU/Rutgers/Lou are not

Maryland/UCLA Ok

Col St/Boise/Utah st./memphis Ehh

Xavier is out

MSU has beat currently ranked #3 Illinois, #4 Michigan and #9 OSU.
They should be ahead of us. The rest I agree and Boise should be out too

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

I think losing in that fashion will keep us out of the play in games TBH. They'll send another ACC bubble team there early instead of us.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

These are not times for moral consistency.

This is exactly right.

 

[Ajflood12]

I have a weird feeling we play Louisville in play in game? Is that possible?

Louisville will cxl again and we get a free pass.

 

[Ceerqqq]

on the other hand, they are trying to find the best teams. What says more about your team, a win in November in the a tournament or a hot finish. I want the teams playing the best at the end of the season.

It shouldn't be THE variable to determine who gets invited, but if/when the resumes of two bubble teams are roughly equal, the team that's doing better at the end of the season should get the nod. Seems like a no brainer...

added...
The idea that some Syracuse fans would argue for "the whole body of work" if their team is flailing at the end of the season (injuries, whatever) is indeed predictable, but it would be a flawed argument. We are not talking about two equally valid arguments.

The "whole body of work" argument is simply wrong IF your purpose is to bring together all the best teams in the country together in a season-ending tournament who are observably the best teams in the country at the time the tournament begins.

This makes sense if you acknowledge that all teams improve over the course of a season, some more so than others. The tournament is supposed to decide which of the Div 1 teams have improved so much that they are at the end of the season the best team in the land.

Can this be disputed?

 

[OrlandoCuse]

Honestly that would seem pretty fair imo.

They’d get another Covid case and forfeit.