Syracuse - Pittsburgh ACC Tournament 2nd Round Preview
0 Comments Published on 3.09.2016 by Brian Harrison
Syracuse students agree: Tournaments are always must win situations.
Syracuse already had one "win and you're in" situation in their last game. Now it's definitely win or you're OUT. Syracuse must find a way to beat Pittsburgh, a team that has beaten Syracuse both at home and on the road this season. Syracuse will again probably not be able to keep the rebounding numbers respectable, but they must do one thing and one thing only for 40 minutes. That is score. Syracuse had kept both games against Pitt fairly close heading into the final media timeout. But then Syracuse managed to either turn the ball over, or just plain not make shots. Syracuse needs to finish that final four minutes this game, or they may be sitting at home next weekend. And that would be tragic for Michael Gbinije and Trevor Cooney. Tyler Lydon should have another good game against Pittsburgh, but only 19 combined points from Cooney, Gbinije, Richardson, and Roberson in the last outing isn't going to get it done. Syracuse must make their 3 pointers. And 2-10 efforts, or even 3-7, probably won't be enough. Syracuse needs to value possessions and execute high percentage shots. I don't think Syracuse is able to really stop Pittsburgh inside. They haven't proved they can yet at least. Therefore, possessing the ball more than Pitt, and converting those possessions is important. We all know how tough it is to beat a team 3 times in a row. I think Pitt will have a tougher time than the last 2 games against Syracuse. And what will also help is that the Verizon Center will be full of SU fans. DC is a major Syracuse stronghold. Therefore, in a close one, with their backs against the line, I'm taking the Orange by 5. This game is available nationally on ESPN / WatchESPN at 12:00pm. John is life in the arena in DC so say hi if you see him, and since I work for myself, the boss let me out to watch this one. Should be interesting either way. GO ORANGE!
Labels: ACC, ACC Tournament, Basketball, Pittsburgh, Preview
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