Daunting Task Awaits The Syracuse Basketball Team On Road Versus UNC

The Syracuse basketball team has their work cut out for them Monday night if they plan on getting their first road win of the season.

The Syracuse basketball squad has a quick turn-around from its Saturday home throttling of Boston College. The Orange (11-7) travels to Chapel Hill on Monday night to take on North Carolina, one of the premier teams in the country and winners of four straight.

The Tar Heels (16-3), No. 11 in the AP Poll prior to the new rankings getting announced on Monday afternoon, are an offensive machine. They average close to 90 points per contest, which is among the best outputs nationally.

Most recently, UNC took care of a highly ranked Florida State outfit, 96-83, this past Saturday. That setback represented the first ACC defeat for the Seminoles.

Currently, North Carolina has amassed nine conquests of RPI top-100 schools: Florida State, Wake Forest, Wisconsin, N.C. State, Clemson, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Monmouth and Chattanooga.

So far in the 2017-18 campaign, UNC has suffered losses on a neutral-site to Kentucky (understandable), as well as on the road to Georgia Tech (heavy head-scratcher) and Indiana (mild head-scratcher).

Syracuse and North Carolina have two common opponents. The Orange got smoked by Wisconsin

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on the road, while the Tar Heels lit up the Badgers on a neutral-court. Both SU and UNC crushed Monmouth at their respective home venues.

A year ago, North Carolina swept its three tilts with the ‘Cuse, triumphing by 11 points (84-73) at the Carrier Dome in January, then squeaking past Syracuse, 75-70, in Chapel Hill last February. Oh, and there was that Final Four thing. You know how that turned out.

As previously mentioned, the Tar Heels put up 90 points a game, while allowing 70. They shoot 47 percent from the field, 71 percent from the free-throw line and 38 percent from 3-point range.

The Orange, on the other hand, averages 76 points each time out and surrender 66. The ‘Cuse connects on 46 percent of its field goals, 69 percent from the charity stripe and 39 percent from downtown.

These numbers are relatively even, save for North Carolina scoring way more points, but also giving up a few more points.

What’s not so even, however, is the rebounding category. UNC collects 46 boards per contest, about eight more than SU. The Tar Heels are widely considered the top rebounding team in the country, and we all know that the ‘Cuse can struggle mightily on the glass.

This could play a huge role in Monday night’s outcome.

In terms of assists, blocks and steals, the two programs are, once again, fairly identical.

North Carolina’s four double-digit scorers – Juniors Joel Berry II and Justin Jackson, along with Seniors Isaiah Hicks and Kennedy Meeks – are all terrific talents. Syracuse will undoubtedly have its hands full.

UNC, coming off a runner-up finish to Villanova in the 2016 NCAA Tournament, is on a roll and suiting up at home, where it has yet to lose this season.

Everyone on the Orange roster must show up with its A-game on offense, or we have no shot at pulling off the upset. We also need the defense that stifled Miami, Pittsburgh and, on Saturday, Boston College. Otherwise, the Tar Heels could easily eclipse the century mark.

With no signature victories in the non-conference slate, Syracuse has to claim some wins against ranked ACC foes to have any chance of reaching the Big Dance in March.

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Monday night in Chapel Hill will prove a monumental challenge for sure. And also a prime opportunity to boost SU’s fairly pedestrian resume.

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