Syracuse, N.Y. -- An anomaly.
That's how ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Bilas described the return of all five starters for the Syracuse Orange basketball team.
"That used to be the norm when you'd have guys come back and stay for four years,'' Bilas said. "But now, it's an anomaly. For a variety of reasons, players going to the NBA early, more guys transferring, it just doesn't happen anymore.''
The starting five that led Syracuse to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament last March will take the court together again on Nov. 6 when the Orange opens the 2018-19 season against Eastern Washington (as long as Frank Howard's injury is healed).