Syracuse, N.Y. — The Syracuse women’s basketball team is expected to finish in the bottom half of the the Atlantic Coast Conference standings for the 2021-22 season.
The ACC’s two preseason polls — one from the league’s 15 coaches and one from its Blue Ribbon Panel — project the Orange to finish 12th and 13th, respectively. The Blue Ribbon Panel is comprised of 57 media members that cover the conference on a consistent basis.
Syracuse finished with a 15-9 record last season (9-7 in the ACC) and advanced to the second round of the ACC tournament. The Orange will begin the season with nine new players after a massive roster overhaul in which 12 players entered the transfer portal during the offseason.
Acting head coach Vonn Read said Syracuse plans to play with pace and shoot a lot of 3′s this season, but the main thing the team is lacking is cohesiveness and chemistry.
North Carolina State center Elissa Cunane was selected as the ACC’s preseason Player of the Year by both the Blue Ribbon Panel and coaches. The Wolfpack is expected to finish first in the league in both polls.
Syracuse will begin its 2021-22 season in the Carrier Dome against Monmouth on Nov. 10. The Orange will begin ACC play the very next game against Notre Dame on Nov. 14, the same night the university will retire the jersey of former SU legend Felisha Legette-Jack.
Blue Ribbon Panel & Head Coaches Preseason Player of the Year
Elissa Cunane, North Carolina State, senior, center
Head Coaches Preseason All-ACC Team
Taylor Soule, Boston College, senior, forward
Delicia Washington, Clemson, guard, guard
Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech, senior, forward
Lotta-Maj Lahtinen, Georgia Tech, senior, guard
Hailey Van Lith, Louisville, sophomore, guard
Jakia Brown-Turner, NC State, junior, guard
Elissa Cunane, NC State, senior, center (13)
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame, sophomore, forward
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, junior, center (2)
Aisha Sheppard, Virginia Tech, senior, guard
() Indicates preseason player of the year votes
Head Coaches Newcomer Watch List
Celeste Taylor, Duke, junior, guard
Payton Verhulst, Louisville, freshman, guard
Diamond Johnson, NC State, sophomore, guard
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame, freshman, guard
Olivia Miles, Notre Dame, freshman, guard
Head Coaches Predicted Order of Finish
1. North Carolina State (14 first-place votes) - 224 points
2. Louisville (1) - 207
3. Georgia Tech - 192
4. Virginia Tech - 172
5. Florida State - 152
6. Notre Dame - 149
7. North Carolina - 127
8. Duke - 125
9. Miami - 92
10. Clemson - 83
11. Boston College - 78
12. Syracuse - 60
13. Wake Forest - 59
14. Pitt - 47
15. Virginia - 33
() Indicates first-place votes
Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason All-ACC Team (57 voters)
Taylor Soule, Boston College, forward
Delicia Washington, Clemson, guard
Lorela Cubaj, Georgia Tech, forward
Lotta-Maj Lahtinen, Georgia Tech, guard
Hailey Van Lith, Louisville, guard
Jakia Brown-Turner, North Carolina State, guard
Elissa Cunane, North Carolina State, forward
Maddy Westbeld, Notre Dame, forward
Elizabeth Kitley, Virginia Tech, center
Aisha Sheppard, Virginia Tech, guard
() Indicates preseason player of the year votes
Blue Ribbon Panel Newcomer Watch List
Payton Verhulst, Louisville, guard
Diamond Johnson, North Carolina State, guard
Olivia Miles, Notre Dame, guard
Sonia Citron, Notre Dame, guard
Teonni Key, North Carolina, guard
Blue Ribbon Panel Predicted Order of Finish (57 voters)
1. North Carolina State (50 first-place votes) – 847 points
2. Louisville (7) – 789 points
3. Georgia Tech – 691 points
4. Virginia Tech – 644 points
5. Florida State – 507 points
6. Notre Dame – 580 points
7. North Carolina – 488 points
8. Duke – 464 points
9. Miami – 355 points
10. Clemson – 324 points
11. Boston College – 297 points
12. Wake Forest – 250 points
13. Syracuse – 227 points
14. Pittsburgh – 160 points
15. Virginia – 117 points
() Indicates first-place votes
Contact Mike Curtis anytime: Email | Twitter
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