For the fifth time in six seasons, Syracuse women’s basketball is ranked in the Preseason AP Top 25 Poll. The Orange checked in at No. 21 less than one week before their season opens against Ohio on Nov. 5.

Last year, SU was upset by South Dakota State in the second round of the NCAA tournament, 75-64, after seeding high enough to host the first two rounds. It undercut a 25-win season for the Orange, their most since making a run to the final four in 2015-16.

“It feels like a long time ago, but it does feel like it was just yesterday because you still have the feeling of losing at home with a chance to go on to the Sweet 16,” SU head coach Quentin Hillsman said during Oct. 11’s media day.

In ESPN’s Way-Too-Early Top 25 published in April, Charlie Creme listed the Orange at No. 10. Since then, they’ve lost star point guard and leading scorer Tiana Mangakahia for the season after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in August and underwent treatment.

But at media day on Oct. 11, Hillsman reiterated that he had already been preparing at the end of last season for Mangakahia’s departure to the WNBA draft. He was “not concerned,” because Syracuse had a viable replacement in Kiara Lewis. Still, Hillsman predicted that the rankings would have SU lower than he thinks it should be.

“We’re going to be in a hostile state,” Hillsman said, “because I’m ready to play, our players are ready to play, and we’re tired of hearing the comments of where we are and how far we have fallen.”

The Orange’s leading returning scorer from 2018-19 is junior forward Digna Strautmane, who tallied 9.5 points per game while starting all 34 contests.

Syracuse is one of six ACC teams ranked to open the season, joining Louisville (No. 9), Florida State (No. 12), North Carolina State (No. 14), Notre Dame (No. 16) and Miami (No. 18). Oregon, who travels to Syracuse and faces the Orange on Nov. 24, earned the top spot in the poll.

Published on October 30, 2019 at 1:30 pm

Contact Andrew: arcrane@syr.edu | @CraneAndrew