A perennial member of the Finals four in the 80's and 90's, odds are slim it will be going to Hartford, Connecticut on Memorial Day week-end. In fact the odds are 50/50 it won't make the tournament. Championship odds are less than 1%.
Duke, ND, UNC, MD, UVA as locks, that leaves 4 at-large remaining if Maryland wins the B10 AQ. Then there is the Big East (Denver, Georgetown), Patriot (Army, Lehigh) as well as Delaware, Navy and Drexel should they fail to win an AQ.
Best scenario for Syracuse:
1. Army (beat Syracuse) wins the Patriot
2. Denver wins the Big East
3. Maryland wins the B10
4. Drexel wins the Colonial.
That leaves Syracuse, Rutgers, Georgetown, Lehigh, Delaware and possibly Navy for the remaining four.
5. In a normal year, Syracuse is a lock with RPI, SOS and QW rankings of 6, 3 and 8.
However in the pandemic year, the committee might ignore these numbers since there was limited cross-over play between conferences which diminishes the importance of these factors. My guess is that if the above 4 happens, Syracuse gets the nod over Lehigh, Delaware and Navy.
Duke, ND, UNC, MD, UVA as locks, that leaves 4 at-large remaining if Maryland wins the B10 AQ. Then there is the Big East (Denver, Georgetown), Patriot (Army, Lehigh) as well as Delaware, Navy and Drexel should they fail to win an AQ.
Best scenario for Syracuse:
1. Army (beat Syracuse) wins the Patriot
2. Denver wins the Big East
3. Maryland wins the B10
4. Drexel wins the Colonial.
That leaves Syracuse, Rutgers, Georgetown, Lehigh, Delaware and possibly Navy for the remaining four.
5. In a normal year, Syracuse is a lock with RPI, SOS and QW rankings of 6, 3 and 8.
However in the pandemic year, the committee might ignore these numbers since there was limited cross-over play between conferences which diminishes the importance of these factors. My guess is that if the above 4 happens, Syracuse gets the nod over Lehigh, Delaware and Navy.
