Syracuse students agree: we're on break but a win would be nice.Now it comes to the biggest non-conference game remaining for the Orange. Syracuse will travel away from the friendly confines of the Carrier Dome to Memphis to play the second best team in the nation last year, after a dramatic loss in overtime to Kansas. Currently, the Tigers are ranked #21 in the nation, while Syracuse is ranked 11th. On paper, these teams are virtually identical, with John Calipari’s squad is earning 78 points per game and allowing 64.5 points per game. Syracuse is averaging 82ppg and allowing 67.1. The good news is that Syracuse is 10-1, while Memphis is 6-2, losing to Georgetown and Xavier. However, they are currently 5-0 at home. The Tigers’ leading scorer is Tyreke Evans who is averaging 16.1ppg, 5.8 rebounds per game, and 3.8 assists per game. Syracuse is also without Eric Devendorf. This could pose a problem as Devo was still a dynamic scorer in the paint, and of course with the long ball. I do think Syracuse wins this game, but I think it will be ugly and close. Syracuse over Memphis by four.
Labels: Basketball, Preview
Good job on your prediction; Syracuse won by 7. I had my doubts about beating a top 25 team, on the road, in the first game with Devo suspended and Flynn supposedly hurt, but none of that seemed to matter. Great job by the Orange!
Yeah, it certainly helped that Memphis couldn't hit all those three pointers they chucked up. Our free throw shooting is still horrible, but it was good to win and good for the team to not give up.