Is Syracuse Basketball An Elite Program?

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim has scowled his way to a lot of wins in 38 years

With the contest against the Duke Blue Devils less than 12 hours away, the hot topic over at TNIAAM is, “Is Syracuse basketball an elite program?”  Unquestioned basketball royalty coming to town has made this game into a measuring stick of sorts for Orange fans (never mind that Jim Boeheim‘s squad has already beaten UNC and Indiana this season, teams that, while not having great years, are considered hoops blue bloods by just about everybody).

Personally, I’ve felt that the Orange have been elite for quite some time and my rationale is pretty easily broken down into three factors:  titles, total wins and self-sustaining success.

Syracuse Basketball: Keep Calm and Beat Duke

Mike Krzyzewski and his Duke Blue Devils make their first visit to the Carrier Dome on Saturday. (Getty Images)

Now that the tilt against Wake Forest has come and gone, I feel it’s finally safe to talk in earnest about this Saturday’s game against the Blue Devils from Duke.  I’d hate to be accused of looking past the Demon Decons.

So, on to the Dookies and, really, I’d just like like to start with a question.

What the hell?