High Post Hoops
Fansided

2018 ACC preview: Notre Dame, Louisville battle for top

By Arielle Chambers

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Muffet McGraw and her team pose for photos after winning the National Championship game between the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on April 1, 2018 at Nationwide Arena. Notre Dame won 61-58. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Muffet McGraw and her team pose for photos after winning the National Championship game between the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on April 1, 2018 at Nationwide Arena. Notre Dame won 61-58. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 16
Next
(Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /

Syracuse Orange

Projected finish: 5th

Last year’s record: 22-9, 10-6 ACC

Key Returners (last season’s stats):

G-Tiana Mangakahia, 5’6, (Brisbane, AUS), JR- 9.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 29.8 MPG; set school record for first-year player with 81 three pointers, Cuse’s only returning starter; multiple ACC Player of the Week recognitions; All-ACC First Team.

G-Gabby Cooper, 5’10, (Lansing, IL), JR- 10.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 30.7 MPG.

(Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Biggest losses (last season’s stats):

There were no significant losses to the team.

Newcomers:

G- Kadiatou Sissoko, 6’2, (Paris, FR), FR –  Played for France’s U20 national team at FIBA Women’s European Championship this summer.

F/G- Emily Engstler, 6’1, (Fresh Meadows, NY), FR –  2018 McDonald’s All-American; New York Gatorade State Player of the Year.

G- Veronika Vorackova, 5’9, (Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic), FR 

Head Coach

Quentin Hillsman, 13th season

  • 11 post season appearances in 12 years (seven NCAA)
  • Overall record at Syracuse: 263-136
  • 2016 NCAA Regional Champions

Key games:

Nove 10- @ Oregon: 4 pm ET

Nov 14 – Texas A&M (at Westchester County Center): 4 pm ET

Jan 6 – @Virginia Tech: 2 pm ET

Feb 25 – Notre Dame: 6 pm ET (ESPN2); Big Monday game

Outlook:

Coach Quentin Hillsman has a knack for recruiting international players. Three of his new players are Maeva Djaldi-Tabdi, Marie-Paule Foppossi and Kadiatou Sissoko, who all played together on the U20 France National Team at the Women’s FIBA European Championship over the summer. In addition to international recruitment via the France National Team, Digna Strautmane represents her country and plays on the Latvian senior national team.  Because of their year-round competitiveness, especially on an international stage, this could very well help the Orange in March.

Speaking of international players, Australia’s Tiana Mangakahia made her Syracuse debut and  immediately impacted her program. With a stellar first ACC season under her belt, she received several nods as ACC Player of the Week and made All-ACC First Team.

Syracuse is no stranger to success and long runs in the NCAA Tournament. This year will absolutely be no different unless the team is not healthy. No significant roster players were lost due to graduation or transfer and the Orange will return 95.6 percent of its scoring in the upcoming season.  They have lost no starters and if anything, are more seasoned as a unit.

(Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /

Best case scenario:

Syracuse will be in the top of the conference. Having no significant losses, they can just build upon what they already have. Coach Q has it fairly easy because his veterans already know what it feels like to win and once that pride develops, production comes. The Orange in position to make another appearance in the NCAA Tournament and not get eliminated in the first round.

Worst case scenario:

Even at the worst, it will be very hard for ‘Cuse to drop to the lower half of the conference. Though true, they will have to battle it out against NC State and Miami for the rankings within the conference. Not to mention, they lost to Virginia Tech twice last year, so that game will be a tell-tale sign of Syracuse’s positioning. Also, Coach Q will need to make sure the different nations’ styles of play blend together.

Home/ACC