Syracuse students agree: Syracuse needs another win on the road, even shorthanded.
Syracuse heads to Atlanta, with fewer players than the last game. Syracuse has 6 healthy scholarship players, so strap in folks, because this is going to be interesting win or lose. But really, this game will be one in the low post. Syracuse needs to stop Ben Lammers, and the other GTech big men from scoring. If Syracuse can play solid defense, like they have been all season, they should be able to win this one, and get enough points scoring to win a nice road victory. If Lammers is able to consistently score from inside the paint or closer, Syracuse is going to have a tough day as well know this team isn't really built to come back from behind. Good news is Matthew Moyer appears ready to play, so that's the good news. But really, the game rests on Chukwu and Sidibe blocking shots and grabbing rebounds. It wouldn't hurt of Dolezaj grabbed a bunch as well. Syracuse needs to drive the ball and get GTech in some foul trouble, then take advantage. Frank Howard has been a lot better with turnovers after the week layoff they had to practice, and I think that should continue in this one. I like Syracuse, but in a very tight one. I'm taking Syracuse on the road by 5. This game is available regionally at 8:00pm. Check your listings here. Everyone else is internet only (like me). Both John and I are on the Tweets tonight. We'll see you out there. GO ORANGE!
Labels: ACC, Basketball, Preview
Syracuse students agree: Sweeping Pitt would be great.
Syracuse had a week off and after working in practice Syracuse played their best offensive game of the season against Boston College in the Dome. Syracuse now tries to keep the winning streak alive as they travel to The Pete to take on Pittsburgh. Traditionally The Pete has been a tough place to play for opposing teams, but Syracuse was the team that got the first win there, Tyler Ennis daggered the hearts of Pitt fans, and Pittsburgh is a garbage fire on offense this season. Syracuse has one job and one job they need to do to win. That is stop Parker Stewart from hitting a ton of 3 pointers. Syracuse let him get loose and Pittsburgh had a lead in the Dome. But then Boeheim ripped his jacked off and ripped into his players and the defense tightened. They were able to stop Pittsburgh for virtually the last ten minutes of the game. Syracuse will need to do the same if they want to win at Pittsburgh. SU held Pitt to 45 points in the last game, and nothing I've seen from either team should change that too much. Syracuse just need to again rebound. The interesting question is if Matt Moyer has recovered from his sprained ankle he suffered Wednesday in the Boston College game. An even lighter bench, and a whistle happy crew in stripes could be disastrous for Syracuse. Syracuse needs to be smart on defense and stay out of foul trouble. If they can, Syracuse should have a good day. The depth is concerning, but not enough for me to pick Pittsburgh in this. I'm taking the Orange by 13. This game is available regionally at 4:00pm. Check your local listings here. WatchESPN for everyone else. As always, GO ORANGE!
Labels: ACC, Basketball, Pittsburgh, Preview
Syracuse students agree: BC sucks!
Syracuse takes on old foe in Boston College. The Orange are favored in this game. Weirdly, both these teams basically use their starting 5 and not much else. Syracuse will look to guard the two big shooters on BC, Nik Popovic and Steffon Mitchell. They'll guard them tight, hoping Boston College can't do much on the inside, a play they tried to employ against VTech and Pittsburgh, with Pittsburgh only succeeding last in the 2nd half. Either way, we know the story by now. This is the easiest year for previews in a while. Syracuse's defense will do it's job. If Syracuse can rebound the ball, they should win this one. I like SU to go off in the 2nd half and get on a few mini-scoring runs. They should be tight with BC until about midway through the 2nd. Then see the shooters for Syracuse get hot, BC in a little bit of foul trouble, and Syracuse should have a pretty good day in a must win for the Orange. I'm taking them by 10. This game is available nationally on The U at 7:00pm. Also available on WatchESPN. John is in the Dome. I'm at home. Let's Go Orange, and BC SUCKS AND ALWAYS WILL!
Labels: ACC, Basketball, BC Sucks, Preview
Syracuse students agree: We're back just in time for a rivalry game.
Syracuse is coming off a brutal lost to Florida State, a win that Syracuse was desperately seeking and could have earned. Now, dumpster fire Pittsburgh comes in the Carrier Dome reeling even more than Syracuse. Pittsburgh is a team in shambles. They've had about 13 different starting lineups, their coach is yelling at crowds, he doesn't know how to beat the Zone, and they haven't won a conference game yet this year. Pittsburgh doesn't score a lot, and they also turn the ball over. The game plan should be simple. Get as many points off turnovers as possible, and rebound the holy hell out of the ball on both ends. If Syracuse can do that, even the usual "where the hell did this guy come from?" unbelievable scorer can't hurt SU. Syracuse needs to just do what they do best, which is play defense. The rest, in theory, should come in this one. Syracuse needs conference wins, and although a home win isn't as good as a win on the road against a ranked team, Syracuse needs to avoid a 5 game losing streak. Ahh Pittsburgh, the cure for what ails you (this used to be BC, but they seem to be competent this year). I guess they should have tried to keep Jaime Dixon a little harder huh? I'm taking the Orange by 9. This game is available regionally at 9:00pm. Check your local listings here. Despite this being a home game, both John and I are in the respective home offices. Shit on Pitt. Yadda yadda yadda. GO ORANGE!
Labels: ACC, Basketball, Pittsburgh, Preview
Syracuse students agree: A big win on the road would really help right now.
Syracuse has had a rough go lately. Syracuse should have won at Wake Forest. Syracuse should have beaten a shorthanded Notre Dame, and played about as well as most of us thought against Virginia even though they lost. Now Syracuse has a chance to win on the road versus a ranked team. Something Syracuse needs right now like they need better shooting. Syracuse actually has a really great match up with FSU here. Florida State takes a whole bunch of three point shots and are only 6th in making them in the ACC. That's usually a great recipe for Syracuse to win the game by making rebounds off missed shots, getting fast break points, or limiting FSU to just one shot per possession. But I'm just not convinced that Syracuse can take advantage of that by scoring in the half court. And on top of that, I'm not convinced Battle and Howard won't turn the ball over a ton to keep FSU into it or ahead. So just on my gut, I'm taking Florida State by 13, however, again, because this is a good match up for Syracuse, and FSU is coming off another loss, SU could make magic today. This game is available regionally at 2:00pm. Check your local listings here. For everyone else, you can stream on WatchESPN. Both John and I are watching, but I'm at least watching in HD. Go Orange!
Labels: ACC, Basketball, Preview
Syracuse students agree: At least the Virginia students won't be in the building.
After an absolute let down on Saturday in a winable game against Notre Dame (you know, they had their two best players unavailable), Syracuse travels to Virginia to take on one of the best teams in the league right now. Virginia might have the best defense (besides Syracuse) in the league, and they also cause a lot of turnovers. Oh hey fun fact: SYRACUSE CAN'T SCORE. This is going to go well. Virginia is going to limit Battle and that means that Moyer and Brissett will have to do most of the damage. Syracuse will have to force a whole lot of turnovers for easy buckets to stay in this game. I think they will manage to get it somewhat close until around the last 8 minutes of the game. Then I see Virginia getting a lead and not giving it up. Bonus fun fact: TV Teddy allegedly on the call as well. Would you like a cup of piss with that shit sandwich? Syracuse could surprise some folks today. And god knows the resume could use a nice upset road win. But I just think this isn't the matchup where Syracuse will surprise folks. I'm taking the Cavs by 16. This game is available regionally at 7:00pm. If you aren't blacked out, on WatchESPN. John is rolling standard definition tonight. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is Internet Only. We'll see you out there. Go Orange!
Labels: ACC, Basketball, Preview
Syracuse students agree: Syracuse has to beat a wounded ND team.
Syracuse had a bit of a snag when they couldn't seen to stop Wake Forest, a team they should have beaten on the road on Wednesday. But Dome sweet Dome, as Syracuse heads back to the Carrier Dome to take on an ailing Notre Dame team. They are missing Matt Farrell and Bonzie Colson, which is good for Syracuse. Syracuse is favored in this game. They are home. Syracuse is now supposed to win this game. For some reason, Mike Brey is regarded as a very good college basketball coach. I think he's actually a terrible Xs and Os coach, and has gotten by on the fact that he's at Notre Dame and he can recruit. Regardless, with the talent lacking on his sideline today, Mike Brey will have to get creative, or his team will lose. Syracuse can only beat themselves today. Play solid defense, and REBOUND, and Syracuse should get a nice victory and a good win on the resume. I'm taking Syracuse by 13. This game is available nationally on ESPN 2 / WatchESPN at 3:15pm. I can guarantee John is in the Dome. I'm in the home office. Let's beat Notre Lame. GO ORANGE!
Labels: ACC, Basketball, Notre Lame, Preview
Syracuse students agree: It's important to win on the road in the ACC.
Syracuse starts ACC road play with a trip to Wake Forest. The good news is, it's not like Syracuse has to play Duke tonight. While there are no "easy" games on the road in the ACC, this is an easy game for Syracuse. Strangely enough, Wake Forest's leading scorer comes off the bench. Keyshawn Woods comes off the bench and leads their scoring with 15.7 ppg and leads the team with 29.2 minutes on the floor. He's making 40% of his three point shots, so Syracuse will have to cover him if they want to win the game. But really, this game should be close in the first half, and like the 2nd half against Virginia Tech, pull away and have a comfortable second half. Wake Forest is surprisingly not good this year, and dropped some games early to nobodys. Syracuse needs to avoid an upset here. The good news is Tyus Battle seems to have broken out of his slump and scored nicely against VTech. Also surprisingly, Frank Howard was able to drill some long range shots. I like Syracuse's offense in the new year so far. So I assume that will continue, at least in the second half at Wake. I'm taking the Orange by 12. This game is available nationally on ESPN U / Watch ESPN at 7:00pm. Both John and I will be watching. Stay warm, and be responsible if you have a snow day tomorrow like me. Go Orange!
Labels: ACC, Basketball, Preview