The ACC Schedule

[Waltdods]

Syracuse will play 3 conference games against currently-ranked teams, only one (Duke) away. Last year, SU played 7 conference games against ranked teams, 3 of them away (and that doesn't count decent but unranked Noa and Pitt teams). And the schedule is completely lacking anything like the absolute murderer's row every Big East team had to face at some point each season for the last few years. Was Syracuse's five-game stretch last year of @ #1 Louisville, #21 Cincy, @Nova, @Pittsburgh, #25 Notre Dame the worst? Or was it the end-of-the-season thunderdome of #11 Georgetown, @#22 Marquette, #10 Louisville, DePaul, @#5 Georgetown? Whichever it was is miles more difficult than this year's toughest stretch, which is legitimately hard to identify. Maybe the last five games - four of them away and starting @ Duke?

Just an amazing difference in the middle-of-the-conference strength. Have to think that will make it easier to avoid some of the swoons we've seen in prior years (including last season).

 

[OttoMets]

The only team that can stop Syracuse this (regular) season is Syracuse. It's an incredibly forgiving schedule.

 

[Garbs]

Now we know how Duke and UNC coast to 1 and 2 seeds in their backyards each year, it's our turn.

MSG here we come

 

[SUintheVille]

SU has to play Duke twice, Pitt twice, NC, NC St, FL St, ND, and VA. Those will be some tough games, plus there always seems to be at least one What game that you expected to win or at least win easily. So, maybe it's no original Big East, but Cuse will certainly need to play well each night. This ain't no cake walk. That said, there's no one they can't compete or beat.

 

[kirbivore]

That's another reason this Villanova game is so important. It can offset the inevitable What loss league play.