The Syracuse Orange are the No. 1 team in the nation. As such, it's time for everyone (read: ESPN) to pull out all their tired reasons why Syracuse doesn't deserve the ranking. Congrats, everyone.
Generic Syracuse Orange Basketball Complaint #1 - "They never leave the Carrier Dome." Check!
Syracuse has yet to play a single true road nonconference game this season. The only time Syracuse left the comfy confines of the Carrier Dome was to play Virginia Tech and Stanford at the NIT Season Tip-Off
Generic Syracuse Orange Basketball Complaint #2 - "They never leave New York." Check!
Hallelujah, hallelujah -- Jim Boeheim's team is finally going on the road. The Orange have yet to leave the state of New York this season, so it will be interesting to see how they handle a game they should win, but one whose location presents distinct challenges this particular team has yet to face.
Generic Syracuse Orange Basketball Complaint #3 - "Even when they do play good teams, they don't play them on the road." Check!
The only truly "marquee" win Syracuse has came against Florida, which, again, was at the Carrier Dome.
Generic Syracuse Orange Basketball Complaint #4 - "They don't have any great players." Check!
Syracuse doesn't field a dominating playmaker and has risen to the top despite only one victory over a Top 25 team.
Generic Syracuse Orange Basketball Complaint #5 - "They schedule weak." Check!
They beat then-No. 9 Florida 72-68 on Dec. 2, but don't play a Top 25 team again until Jan. 7, when they host No. 11 Marquette (9-0).
We're one week away from "Syracuse hasn't left the East Coast this season." That should complete the cycle. Enjoy it, everyone!