Can Syracuse Women’s Basketball Make a Run in the ACC Tournament?
By Adam Hispky | @adamhipsky
Syracuse women’s basketball enters the ACC Tournament as the No. 13 seed, but its first-round matchup against No. 12 Boston College is anything but predictable. The Orange suffered a brutal 41-point loss to the Eagles earlier this season, only to flip the script in dominant fashion with a 20-point win in the regular-season finale. With momentum on their side but inconsistency in their rearview, Syracuse faces a daunting path in Greensboro. Can they harness the late-season surge and make an improbable run, or will the rollercoaster year come to a quick end?
Winning the ACC Tournament is a daunting task for any team, but for Syracuse, it’s nearly unprecedented. As the No. 13 seed, the Orange would need to win five games in five days—an exhausting gauntlet that only a handful of teams have ever survived. History isn’t on their side either; the lowest seed to ever win the tournament was a No. 5, and Syracuse isn’t even close to the NCAA Tournament bubble. For the Orange to pull off a miracle run, they’ll need to defy both history and expectations, proving that their late-season surge was more than just a flash in the pan.
Syracuse’s dominant 82-57 win over Boston College in its regular-season finale showcased the blueprint they need to follow heading into the ACC Tournament. On the defensive end, Syracuse’s ability to shut down Boston College early, holding it to just 10 points in both the first and second quarters, highlighted its defensive intensity. Getting off to a fast start, as evidenced by the Orange’s 19-10 first-quarter lead, will be crucial in the high-stakes, win-or-go-home environment of the tournament. The 25-point blowout was a statement of confidence and momentum, proving Syracuse can rise to the occasion. Now, it must replicate that energy and execution to keep its tournament hopes alive in Greensboro.
If Syracuse can replicate its strong performance in the first round, it would face a challenging matchup against fifth-seeded North Carolina, a team it pushed to the brink earlier this season. Despite a valiant second-half comeback attempt, led by a scorching 6-of-9 shooting performance from beyond the arc, the Orange fell short in a 68-58 loss at the JMA Wireless Dome. Although Syracuse cut the deficit to as low as six points in the fourth quarter, North Carolina responded with a decisive 7-0 run to secure the win. If the Orange can build on the momentum from their first-round win and execute their game plans, they’ll have the opportunity to test their mettle once again against the Tar Heels.
After securing back-to-back wins, Syracuse would face the tough task of playing three games in three days, while Florida State enters the matchup well-rested, coming off nearly an entire week of rest. To have a chance against the fourth-seeded Seminoles, who boast the ACC’s top offense averaging nearly 90 points per game, the Orange will need to tighten up defensively, limiting Florida State’s fast-paced attack. Slowing down the Seminoles’ offensive flow early and maintaining defensive intensity will be key to pulling off an upset.
If Syracuse can make it to the semifinals, its likely to square off with top-seeded NC State, a team it nearly defeated earlier this season. The Orange led for over three quarters before a late surge by the Wolfpack put them ahead. If they can match the Wolfpack’s intensity and stay disciplined, the Orange will have a shot at pulling off another big upset.
If Syracuse reaches the championship game against Duke or Notre Dame, it will be its toughest test yet in Greensboro. Both teams, two of the top three seeds, clobbered the Orange earlier this season by 31 points each. However, with the momentum from their incredible run in the tournament, Syracuse will be on the right track. Despite the tough matchups, the Orange could carry the confidence and energy of having defied the odds. While the challenge will be steep, their resilience and belief in their game could make for a thrilling final showdown.
This may all sound like blasphemy, and yes, this is the same Syracuse team that lost by 41 points to Boston College earlier this season. But it’s March, and in postseason basketball, anything can happen. The unpredictability of the tournament is what makes it so exciting. Syracuse has shown they can rise to the occasion, and with the right mix of momentum, confidence, and heart, they just might surprise us all. The road ahead is tough, but in March, anything is possible.
