To me, the season is broken down into 3 sections. The pre-season (which I like, as a way to get to know the team, and watch them gel and hopefully win some games against solid p5 teams). The regular season (self explanatory), and post season. Each is unique and an accomplishment to do well in. Now, I get that this team, and the last few, have been hard to enjoy from a fan perspective. When we were going undefeated in the pre-season, fighting for the best pod, and regular season championships, everyone was excited and the season was fun and exciting. Everything mattered! Unfortunately that hasn't been the case for a few seasons and it's been hard to root with the same passion. Everything gets tainted with the taste of a once proud program on hard times. Heck, it's way more enjoyable watching ANY college bball when we are good.
For this year, I thought at the very least we would be very solid on D, and improved (i.e good enough) on O, for us to have a decent year - by our standards. That in itself would be reason for some excitement. However, I think as a fan base, we are becoming numb to the state of our union (much like how football was).
Every game I pine for some excitement and the fun we as Syracuse fans have been accustomed to. However, more often than not nowadays, i'm opining on the state of the program and why I am investing so much time and energy on a team that looks disinterested and dysfunctional half the time... it's more a chore, than entertainment, but I can't ever quit this team...
But more to the OP's point, If we were ranked in the top 10 this year, would this still be an issue? We would all be enjoying the ride a lot more than white knuckling a season, and praying for a good match-up in the dance. For me, March Madness is exciting and the pen-ultimate goal for any team is to be the last team standing, but the season is more that 1 month, or 1 game, and I can't turn off being a fan, to casually "enjoy the ride" cuz the product is middling and we are going through a tough stretch. Maybe that's just me, but if i'm in I'm all in.