Syracuse Hosts Georgia Tech Today In Do-Or-Die Battle

The Syracuse basketball team desperately needs a win to separate themselves from the other bubble teams in the bracket. Will they get it done?

This is it.

The SU basketball squad takes on Georgia Tech this Saturday afternoon in the final regular-season clash for both schools.

Everything is on the line in this tilt. The Orange (17-13, 9-8 in ACC play) and the Yellow Jackets (17-13, 8-9) are the exact definition of bubble bunches.

A review of the most-recent mock brackets finds that Syracuse has a slight edge over Georgia Tech. In other words, our boys are currently in the field of 68 by the majority of experts, while our opponent is generally viewed as on the outside looking in.

But, the margin between the programs is supremely slight. Whichever team pulls out a win on March 4 will then have the upper hand against the other, so to speak.

As I recently wrote, the ‘Cuse needs to collect a victory versus GT to have any realistic shot at reaching the Big Dance. No outfit has ever received an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament with 15 defeats. To avoid landing a 15th loss, SU must best the Yellow Jackets.

Or capture the ACC Tournament. Which, I think we all can agree, is highly unlikely.

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Besides the March Madness implications, this affair could also affect the seeding arrangement at next week’s ACC Tourney in Brooklyn. A handful of squads, including Syracuse, is squeezed together in sixth through 11th place in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings.

To date in the 2016-17 campaign, the Orange owns a strong 15-3 mark inside the Carrier Dome. Georgia Tech, on the other hand, is 2-9 when not playing in Atlanta.

So, that’s working in our favor. Still, the ‘Cuse got clubbed its last time out, falling 88-68 at then-No. 7 Louisville on Feb. 26. The Yellow Jackets, meanwhile, snuck past Pittsburgh at home, 61-52, on Feb. 28.

When SU traveled to GT on Feb. 19, the Yellow Jackets hung on, 71-65, despite the Orange having a shot to tie the contest near the end.

Stats-wise, Syracuse scores more, while Georgia Tech defends better. They are fairly even in terms of rebounding, assists, blocks and steals.

We need graduate transfer Andrew White III to regain his shooting stroke, we must hit some 3-pointers. SU has to protect the glass force some turnovers and take care of the ball.

GT is a solid team, but it’s Senior Day, and SU is clearly a different group when suiting up in Central New York. Let’s make this an outcome to remember for White and fellow grad transfer John Gillon, as well as seniors DaJuan Coleman and Tyler Roberson.

Next: It Appears Jim Boeheim’s Son Won’t Don Orange After All

Our NCAA Tournament hopes lie in achieving a win. The pressure is on, but I believe this present Orange contingent can come out on top.

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