Syracuse Basketball vs UNC: Predictions

It’s Leap Day, and that means a 7 pm ACC matchup between Syracuse Basketball and the North Carolina Tar Heels in Chapel Hill.

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February 29th only comes once every four years, and this year is extra special for Syracuse basketball fans as we get a huge matchup with an ACC power. It’s another opportunity for the Orange to add a signature win to their NCAA tournament resume. The big question is, which team is going to show up?

Will it be the team that won the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament? The team that beat Duke on the road and Notre Dame at home? Or will it be the team who lost back to back games to lowly Georgetown and St. John’s, or four straight to open ACC play, or back to back against Pitt and Louisville?

This team has very much been a Jekyll and Hyde show this year and it’s been incredibly difficult to predict what’s going to happen. This game is no different. Although Syracuse basketball are the heavy underdogs, you can never count them out of a game, as they haven’t lost by more than 14 all year and have never been farther than eight points behind with five minutes left in any game this year.

That said, this could be the toughest game of the season for SU. North Carolina are bigger, deeper, and more athletic than Syracuse. They are also coming off a loss to Virginia and looking to flex their muscles against an SU team they beat handily in the Carrier Dome earlier this season.

So with all that said, I talked with the three other writers for Inside the Loud House and asked them to give me their predictions for the outcome of tonight’s game. Here are there responses, and mine as well.

Jeff Kelly

At 19-10, with two games and the ACC Tournament still to be played, Syracuse basketball are more than likely on the right side of the March Madness bubble. A win tonight against North Carolina would almost certainly stamp the dance card for Jim Boeheim’s club, and a win is certainly achievable against a Tar Heels squad that’s lost two of its last four.

Unfortunately, I don’t think a victory is in the cards tonight as the Orange travel to Chapel Hill. UNC’s biggest strength – its abundance of athletic big men who can crash the boards like crazy – is still Syracuse’s biggest weakness, particularly with Tyler Roberson in such a funk right now. While a win is possible, I’m expecting North Carolina to win this game fairly easily.

Final Prediction: UNC 84, Syracuse 71

Chuck Jackson

If you look only at wins and losses, UNC is a full four games better than Syracuse. The problem is, on any given day, the lesser team could win. In this case, I don’t see much hope for the Orange, as badly as I want to make a grand prediction of victory.

What it comes down to for me are two numbers: 16.5 and 13.3. The first is the percentage of losses UNC has experienced at home, where only one of their six losses have come. The second is the average margin of scoring between the two teams, UNC averages 83.4 and Syracuse averages 70.1. If you need a third number, how about +12.8, the average scoring margin for UNC.

If the law of averages actually matters in the grand scheme, it would be hard to pick the Syracuse Orange basketball team to take this game.

Final Prediction: UNC 83, Syracuse 72

Ethan Kimmel

The Syracuse Orange can win this game. Michael Gbinije is a man on a mission. Over the past five games, Gbinije’19-33 from 3 (57.5%), 32-55 overall (58.1%), and averaging. 5.2 rpg, 4.2 apg, 19.2 ppg. The fifth year senior is truly on a remarkable stretch right now and I fully expect it to continue against the Tar Heels. He’s determined to get this team to the tournament and Orange fans have reason to be confident in him.

However, the deciding factor is going to be how the guys around him perform. Will Cooney be able to get back in a rhythm? Can Roberson turn his slump around? Will the freshmen Richardson and Lydon continue to thrive? If so, Syracuse basketball wins this game. If not, the Tar Heels come out on top.

Final Prediction: UNC 79, Syracuse 70

David Stone

To say it’s a long shot for Syracuse basketball to pull out this victory is an understatement. North Carolina has the players to beat us on both the inside and the outside. It’s going to take a superhuman effort from several players on SU for them to pull out a win. Both Cooney and Gbinije need to have massive games. We need to probably shoot 50% or better as a team from deep. We need to get to the foul line, make our free throws, and get them in serious foul trouble. It’s the only way I see Syracuse basketball winning this game.

For UNC, they just need to do exactly what they did against us the first time. Get the ball into the paint and then find the cutter on the baseline or the kickout to the open shooter. As long as they are making even a reasonable percentage of their shots, they should be leading. Limit the mistakes down the stretch and this game should be theirs.

However, at the end of the day, SU needs this game more. Cooney is due for a breakout game. Gbinije has been playing lights out. Coleman has started to turn the corner. The freshmen have been improving almost every game. I say the stars align and SU gets it done.

Final Prediction: SU 75, UNC 74

Next: Syracuse vs. UNC: Game Preview

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter as I will be live tweeting during the game. Also check back after for a full game recap and breakdown.