Syracuse Lacrosse: ACC, Orange Continue to Benefit from Conference Realignment

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Nearly two lacrosse seasons have passed since Syracuse spurned the Big East and became a full-fledged member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

But for 'Cuse, the ACC and perhaps the nation as a whole, it's been a gift that keeps on giving. 

"For Syracuse, playing the nation's top teams week in and week out prepares you for the postseason," said Matt Schneidman of The Daily Orange to B/R. "For the ACC, getting a powerhouse like Syracuse does nothing but bolster your conference's depth and reputation."

The Orange proved that after winning the 2015 ACC tournament last Sunday. Despite entering the weekend as the third-ranked out of four teams, coach John Desko's squad rattled off back-to-back upset wins to claim the title.

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Playing, and beating, two top-six teams (UNC and Duke) in three days will do nothing but benefit 'Cuse two weeks from now. When the national tournament heats up, Syracuse and the other ACC teams will prove to be battle-tested after a grueling conference schedule.

“Playing two games in three days against top-six teams is sort of what you will see in the Final Four,” said ACC championship MVP Kevin Rice (via TheACC.com). “To know we can go in and win a game the first day, get our preparation in quickly and get our bodies back and win another game at the end of the weekend is good to know moving forward.”

But for the conference as a whole, picking up the Orange had its immediate rewards—and it will only continue to reap benefits. Syracuse made the ACC an even more dominant lacrosse conference, and it has shown. Currently, five of the top six teams in D-I lacrosse are from the conference, and if the season ended today, the NCAA would claim its third-straight champion from the ACC.

The ACC is widely considered as lacrosse's version of the SEC in college football, and rightfully so. But if that is true, is Syracuse the ACC's version of Alabama? It’s debatable, as the ACC’s five lacrosse members are nearly always shuffling, and any given team could’ve won the championship this year.

But that’s not to discredit Syracuse; its 10 modern-era national championships are more than any other program in Division I. But the fact that Syracuse isn’t dominating the ACC—only making it even more loaded—is where the national landscape benefits.

Michael Perez/Associated Press

‘Cuse will undoubtedly contend for a national championship, but it isn’t the favorite by any means. In fact, in-conference foe Notre Dame is still ranked above the Orange, despite losing in the ACC tourney’s first round.

That’s what makes college lacrosse so special. Anything can happen when it comes to the national tournament, and although Syracuse is the best conference’s top team, it doesn’t already have the national trophy locked up.

But should the Orange prove to be the country’s best team on May 25, it will do nothing but prove one thing: Syracuse’s move to the ACC will only continue to benefit the Orange, the ACC and the nation as a whole.

“(Lacrosse) is starting to gain some steam, at a national level…and Syracuse is helping that,” said Schneidman. “(Joining the ACC) was the right move, and we’ll definitely continue to see why.”

Samuel Benson is a college lacrosse Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Contact him at [e-mail].