Syracuse men’s basketball receives four votes in this week’s AP Poll

It’s been a minute since the Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team appeared in either the AP or USA Today Top 25 rankings (25th in December 2018). But if they want to get back to being included regularly, it all starts with receiving some votes.

On that note, Syracuse received four in this week’s poll following a week where they went 1-1 at Rutgers (loss) and Boston College (very lopsided win). Those votes all came courtesy of one voter: the Kansas City Star’s Jesse Newell.

The Orange could bolster their case even further for inclusion next time around should they go 2-0 at home against both Northeastern and Buffalo. While neither team is a juggernaut, SU would still be 6-1 potentially staring down two more wins after that (vs. Notre Dame, at Wake Forest) before heading down to UNC on January 2.

UNC was one of six ACC teams to make at least one of the AP or USA Today top 25 polls this week. Those quick lists —

AP: Florida State (15), Virginia (17), Duke, (21), North Carolina (22), Louisville (23), Clemson (24)

Coaches: FSU (15), Virginia (16), UNC (21), Louisville (22), Duke (23)

Clemson was the first team out in the coaches poll. Syracuse (just AP) and Virginia Tech (both) were the other two ACC squads to receive votes.

Last week’s Orange foe Rutgers moved up to 19th in the AP Poll and 17th in the Coaches. Looking at the current rankings, ‘Cuse would have nine games against ranked squads this year. Even picking up a win in a couple of those matchups could mean the difference between being in or out of the field should SU be on the bubble once again. Of course, we’d rather they were just clearly in the NCAA Tournament, though...

Should Syracuse be ranked? Are you nervous about what happens to this team with expectations attached? Does it feel like forever since we could just breathe normally during a college basketball season, given it hasn’t really happened since 2014? Share your own irrational takes below.