It’s Orange vs not-actually-Yellow Jackets on ACCN
The Syracuse Orange (6-8, 0-3) have their second home conference game of the season tonight at 7 when they welcome Georgia Tech (8-7, 2-2) into the Dome. The last time GT came to Central New York, they set a program record for made threes (18) in what ended up being Jim Boeheim’s penultimate regular season game as a head coach.
Naturally we’re hoping for better things tonight as SU tries to get into the ACC win column. But who among us thinks they get it done?
Mike: Syracuse 80, Georgia Tech 75
To answer my own question in the intro, I do. The Orange offense got going again Saturday with J.J. Starling back in the lineup, and he can take advantage of GT’s one glaring weakness: giving up second chances. As long as Chris Bell and others don’t completely waste any open looks on the outside they get, SU can keep pace and squeeze out their first ‘W’ of the new year.
Dom: Syracuse 77, Georgia Tech 70
It’s boom or bust time if Syracuse is looking to make up ground in the ACC, and getting a win will all come down to the offense. As Mike mentioned, having Starling back in the fold at least got the offense back on track against FSU. Georgia Tech has put up high-scoring games (mainly against lower-tier opponents), but the Yellow Jackets have their own defensive concerns like the Orange. Syracuse gets past the ghost that was the home matchup from 2023 and does just enough to squeak by with a win.
Kevin: Georgia Tech 82, Syracuse 80
The way Georgia Tech has been scoring combined with Syracuse’s lack of defense doesn’t have me feeling confident. I think the Orange played better until foul trouble sent them into a panic at Florida State, but JJ Starling likely needs a few more days to get in rhythm and figure out how he can use his ability to break down the defense to get better looks for others. If Syracuse is going to end this losing streak, the frontcourt trio of Freeman, Lampkin and Davis need to play better.
Max: Georgia Tech 78, Syracuse 73
The Orange found their groove from three-point range last time out against FSU, but I still need to see more consistency to back them tonight. Georgia Tech brings an above-average offensive tempo (118th) and moves the ball with precision, assisting on over 58% of shots (64th). I think the uptick in pace wears down whoever starts for Syracuse, negating a heroic offensive effort from Starling.
Szuba: Georgia Tech 79, Syracuse 71
This seems like the type of game where one of Javian McCollum or Lance Terry goes for 20-plus and Syracuse continues to struggle defensively as a collective. Unless the Orange can work Baye Ndongo into foul trouble, the versatile forward represents a matchup problem for Donnie Freeman/Lucas Taylor. Getting Starling back physically and Bell back mentally was important last game, but until we see more from Syracuse it’s going to be hard to pick them to win.
Now it’s your turn: