At one point this offseason, the Syracuse Orange women’s basketball team was a potential top-10 squad according to observers, and possibly the top team in the ACC. Then, the team was rattled by Tiana Mangakahia’s breast cancer diagnosis and her resulting absence for 2019-20. As a result, it seems others have cooled on Syracuse’s chances this season — something that coach Quentin Hillsman said was insulting.
On Wednesday, the ACC released its preseason projections and player honors, and little was made of Syracuse beyond a sixth place finish in both the Blue Ribbon and head coaches polls.