The FTRS season preview series continues with a look at three more ACC opponents that were all middle-of-the-pack teams a year ago but could return to contention this season.
Countdown to Tipoff: 8 Days
2017-18 Record: 23-14 (8-10 ACC); reached Sweet Sixteen in NCAA Tournament
2017-18 Result(s) vs. Tech: GT won 55-51 in Atlanta
Head Coach: Jim Boeheim (entering 43rd season, 926-368 career record as HC at Syracuse)
Final Four Appearances: 2003 (won national title), 2013, 2016
Key Departures: PF Matthew Moyer
Key Returnees: PG Frank Howard, SG Tyus Battle, SF Marek Dolezaj, PF Oshae Brissett, C Paschal Chukwu
Top Recruits (star ratings from 247Sports): 4* PG/SG Jalen Carey, 3* PF Robert Braswell, 3* SG Buddy Boeheim
Syracuse snuck into the NCAA Tournament field as an 11-seed last season despite a losing record in ACC play, but they made a surprise run to the Sweet Sixteen, taking down 3-seed Michigan State (and ruining countless bracket pool entries) along the way.