2008 Women's Basketball Preview

The end of 2007 brought the ladies the most success this team program has ever had. They are off to their best start in school history. What's behind the sudden turn around for a program that's been usually towards the bottom of the Big East? A new coach and a handful of very talented players is a start. Look for 2008 to be a breakout year for Coach Quentin Hillsman and the Syracuse women's basketball team.

How they finished the 2007-2008 season:
The Big East is pretty strong in women's basketball, so like the men, every game is going to be tough. Every team has at least an 8-5 record through the first week of Big East play. They play every team once and Georgetown twice. Look the Lady Orange to score 10 or 11 victories in conference play and finish the season about 22-7 or 23-6. They have the talent to go to the Big East Tournament semifinals. Should they do this, a four or five seed in the NCAA tournament is likely. In the tournament, they again have the talent to reach the Sweet 16, but probably not any further this year. This is all the best case scenario. The ladies will have to continue to play together and hit the boards.

Against North Carolina in 2007, they struggled shooting the ball and turning it over. What separates the best teams from the good ones like UCONN vs. the rest of the country is their ability to shoot and convert put backs into points. Syracuse has improved dramatically as the year has gone on against tougher competition. Look for Coach Q to have this team hitting their stride through Big East play.

The Ladies first real test comes Wednesday against Pittsburgh in PITT. After that UCONN comes to the Dome two games later on January 16th.

After the season, Coach Q will the recruiting trails for his class of 2009. He already has a very strong recruiting class coming in for 2008-2009. Most recruiting services have it ranked in the top 15. S.U. will start the 2008-2009 season well again, probably with only or two losses in the non-conference depending the schedule. I talked to Coach Q at a men's game earlier this year, and he said he was trying to get Maryland on the schedule.

How the community will embrace the team:
The students are starting to get into this team. By the end of the year expect the bottom floor seats to be filled for the biggest Big East games and for UCONN a decent sized student section. The Syracuse community will also begin coming to games. Attendance will jump of 1,000 people a game instead of the approximately 500 a game they draw now.

My final not so bold prediction put in bold lettering:
The Ladies finish the season 11-5 in the Big East and 23-6. They go the Big East Tournament a three seed and lose to Rutgers in the semifinals by a dozen points. They reach the NCAA tournament as a 5 seed and advance to the Sweet 16.