Syracuse Women's Basketball Looks Tournament-Worthy

It's been an interesting season for SU's Women' Basketball team to say the least.

The season began with an 8-0 start, headlined by the statement-making win over then-No. 6 Ohio State. The Orange would complete non-conference play at 12-1 and find themselves in the national rankings. Big East play was hit-and-miss as the Orange collected wins where they could. The program was almost shaken to its core by sexual harassment allegations brought against Coach Q. Those allegations were seemingly forgotten as quickly as they surfaced once the University and players rallied around Hillsman. SU finished the regular season 21-8 (9-7), though the less said about the UConn game this past weekend, the better.

With a solid record and a battle-tested schedule, the Orange look good to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008. Quality wins over Ohio State, Louisville, St. John’s and Marquette should the difference. Beating Seton Hall in the first round of the Big East Tournament and possibly Georgetown in the second round could clinch it.

Erica Morrow and Tasha Harris celebrated Senior Day in the team's win over Providence last week, Playing together since their freshman year, the two will finish their SU careers 1-2 in games started and games played by the time the year is over. To close out their careers the same way they began would be icing on the cake.

"Every year our goal is to get to the NCAA Tournament, so it has definitely been a roller coaster of emotions (over four years)," said Morrow, a former McDonald’s All-American out of vaunted Murry Bergtraum High School in Brooklyn. "We made it my freshman year, but missed out the last two years (with NIT berths). I understand it’s part of the process, but I’d like to get back."

It's tough for the team given the lack of fan support they get inside the cavernous Dome, especially when they see how many folks pack that place to watch Boeheim's team. Perhaps he players can take solace in knowing they and Coach Q are laying the ground work for future Syracuse Women's home games that have thousands of fans watching and cheering.

It wasn't all that long ago that UConn was in the same position:

"My first year [1985] there were probably about 250," Auriemma said with a laugh. "There wasn’t a whole lot of promotion. As a matter of fact, there wasn’t any.

The Orange are a ways off from being like UConn but don't sell short the job Coach Q is doing. Syracuse will go to the post-season this year, the fourth in give years under Coach Q. The team hadn't even put together back-to-back winning seasons since 1990 before he got here. The program keeps getting better and better and there's plenty of room on the bangwagon for anyone who wants on.