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Syracuse suffered its most lopsided loss of the season, getting blown out 96-70 by No. 3 Tennessee Tuesday. It was SU’s first true road test of the season and it failed miserably. The defeat marked the Orange’s third straight to a Power Four opponent after losing to Texas and Texas Tech at the Legends Classic.

Following their drubbing in Knoxville, the Orange open up conference play with a road bout against Notre Dame Saturday. The Fighting Irish were also boat raced in their last contest, falling 69-48 at Georgia. They’ll be without star point guard Markus Burton, who suffered a knee injury last week.

Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse (4-3, 0-0 Atlantic Coast) will fare in its conference opener against Notre Dame (4-5, 0-0 ACC):

Zak Wolf (7-0)
Luck of the Irish
Syracuse 63, Notre Dame 70

After Tuesday’s dreadful showing, Syracuse hasn’t shown me any reason why I should pick it to win Saturday. Against arguably the best team in the country without their leading scorer, J.J. Starling, the Orange showed no fight. Elijah Moore was the lone bright spot with a career-high 24 points, but the rest of SU’s guards failed to show up, combining to score nine points.

To win games in college, you need good guard play, and Syracuse just doesn’t have enough of that right now. Jaquan Carlos was brought in to stabilize the offense as a pure point guard, but the Orange’s scoring has been too inconsistent this season. Guys like Lucas Taylor and Kyle Cuffe Jr. are simply not good enough to help win games in the ACC.

Yes, Notre Dame has lost five straight games, but four of those teams are ranked inside KenPom’s top 75. Braeden Shrewsberry is a dangerous scoring threat at 15.2 points per game, and I think the Orange will have a tough time containing him. I think this game will come down to the wire, but SU’s lack of a go-to guy in the clutch, specifically at guard, will lead it to falter down the stretch.

Aiden Stepansky (7-0)
Where’s Rudy?
Syracuse 73, Notre Dame 77
Every time I think of Notre Dame, my mind moves to the 1993 hit “Rudy.” Rudy Ruettiger’s journey from being an underdog to a hero for the Fighting Irish is one SU’s men’s basketball team can pull inspiration from. Syracuse is down its star player and could use some positivity following a 26-point loss.

Unlike the movie, however, I don’t see anyone being carried off on their teammates’ shoulders. If Starling was playing, I’d be inclined to take the Orange. Burton’s absence diminishes the Fighting Irish’s offense largely. Still, SU has given me no reason to believe it can stifle any offense in the country right now.

As Zak pointed out, Moore has been exceptional recently. Adrian Autry has used him off the bench, but he might push his way into the starting lineup Saturday. Still, Syracuse can’t rely on 20-plus point games from the freshman to emerge victorious. The Orange need Chris Bell to have a standout day shooting from 3 and Donnie Freeman to use his length.

I foresee SU putting up some points due to ND’s defense not being the strongest unit, allowing 71.2 points per game. But in the end, Syracuse’s defense will again fall flat and allow Shrewsberry to get going from beyond the arc to lead the Fighting Irish to victory.

Justin Girshon (7-0)
The Losing Orange
Syracuse 71, Notre Dame 83

While both teams will be without its star guards in Starling and Burton, Syracuse’s matchup against Notre Dame should be a fun start to conference play. However, it’ll be more fun for the Fighting Irish when they secure a double-digit win.

SU has shown no signs of life seven games into the season besides two close losses to Texas and Texas Tech at the Legends Classic — a telling sign of where the program is, considering that’s a positive. Autry said, “This isn’t Syracuse basketball,” following its loss to Tennessee. But what is Syracuse basketball at this point?

The Orange have no identity, and I don’t see them magically figuring anything out in their second game without Starling. Moore has been great, as my fellow scribes said above, but is it realistic for him to put up another 20-point performance on absurd efficiency?

Even if he does, who else will step up and be the Robin to his Batman? Freeman has had expected freshman-year struggles. Eddie Lampkin Jr. is banged up. Carlos isn’t sparking much offense. Meanwhile, the Orange are coming off their worst defensive effort of the season. I don’t see the trip to South Bend going well, as SU will suffer a second straight double-digit loss.

Published on December 4, 2024 at 11:50 pm