The Hoyas tend to ruin things… will they do it again?
The Syracuse Orange (5-4) and Georgetown Hoyas (7-2) meet tomorrow for the 100th time. It’s a special celebration of the rivalry and the Hoyas haven’t been very good guests. Of course you remember “Manley Field House is officially closed”, the spoiling of the Jim Boeheim Court dedication, and the final Big East game between the two schools in the Dome.
Can the Orange get a win for this special event? Here’s what we think:
Kevin: Georgetown 75, Syracuse 73
Sound the #DisloyalIdiot alarm but I just feel like the Hoyas will get enough open looks to go down against the Orange defense to sneak out of town with a win stuck in their Grinch sacks. Can Syracuse handle the ball well enough against a team averaging over 10 steals per game? Will they be able to use some of their advantage inside to negate the Hoyas perimeter advantage? Can either of these teams make 30% from 3? A lot of questions that I don’t have answers for right now, so hoping my gut is wrong.
Dom: Syracuse 73, Georgetown 68
In good conscience, I will end up going Syracuse acknowledging that G-Town on paper has the scoring advantage. Four Hoyas are averaging double-figures (between 12.7 and 15.4 PPG), one being forward Thomas Sorber and the other three being guards. With that said, G-Town also has not beat a Power program so far this season so take those numbers with a grain of salt. If Syracuse’s defense can at least be solid, there will be enough two-point makes by the Orange inside to come away with the win. Will I regret this pick? There’s about a 25% chance… the same percentage I expect from both teams shooting the three on Saturday.
Mike: Georgetown 77, Syracuse 72
Maybe I’ve just taken my Orange-tinted glasses off because I really don’t understand why SU is a heavy favorite. Without their top guard and the matchup advantage at center not playing at 100%, ‘Cuse would likely need a really good afternoon from their secondary scoring – by that, I mean all of Freeman, Moore, and Davis contributing double digits – to pull off a win. As it stands I like G-Town’s mid-range game more right now and I think they claw their way to a last-minute win.
Max: Syracuse 74, Georgetown 71
These teams are a combined 0-6 against Power Five opponents, which honestly doesn’t surprise me. They both can’t shoot from distance (G-Town 29.2%, 310th and ‘Cuse 27.3%, 338th), so this one will be decided in the paint and at the free-throw line. I give Syracuse a slight advantage based on its home-court advantage and foul-drawing abilities. Freeman builds off his career-high 24-point game with 16 more on Saturday, knocking down crucial free throws to ice the game.
Szuba: Georgetown 81, Syracuse 77
Syracuse should have the advantage in the frontcourt whereas Georgetown should have the advantage in the backcourt, but Thomas Sorber mitigates the downside for Georgetown’s frontcourt in a way that Syracuse’s backcourt cannot without JJ Starling. I’m not sure if that made sense, but in other words, Georgetown’s guards in Epps, Mack and Peavy shouldn’t have trouble penetrating the gaps and scoring in this one. Even if it wins the rebounding battle, Syracuse’s lapses on defense might be too much to overcome against an improved Hoya squad.
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Now it’s your turn: