It’s the cliché of all sports clichés. When tournament time comes around every March, each team starts with a clean slate. Everyone is 0-0 in a single-elimination tournament and what was accomplished prior matters not, at least as it relates to the win-or-go-home scenario that comes baked into tournament play.
Of course, tournament play isn’t exactly a factory setting. Results are a byproduct of skill, among myriad other factors. Clean slates ignore seeding as well as overall team strengths and weaknesses. But Syracuse is hoping to right its 15-16 record in the ACC Tournament nonetheless.
The Orange will begin tournament play at noon on Wednesday against Florida State, an unenviable draw in the dreaded 8/9 game where Syracuse will look to hard reset.