Last week, the Syracuse Orange women’s basketball team received its highest preseason ranking ever — 13th in the USA Today Coaches Poll. Today, SU receives its (tied for) highest AP ranking ever. The Orange are 14th to start the year.
Syracuse is projected to finish fourth in the ACC this season, a fact that’s reflected in these rankings as well. Notre Dame (first), Louisville (no. 5) and Florida State (no. 12) all finish ahead of the Orange. Fellow ACC program Miami ends up tied with SU in this poll, while Duke also receives some votes.
There are no other Syracuse opponents in the polls at the moment, though Texas A&M and Michigan State are right outside the top 25. Both were included in last week’s Coaches Poll.
As mentioned before, expectations are very high for this year’s Orange team coming off of a 30-8 season that ended in the National Championship Game. Coach Quentin Hillsman returns four of five starters from that squad, including all-conference contender Alexis Peterson.
Syracuse’s season begins on Friday, November 11 vs. Rhode Island.