Syracuse Basketball: Syracuse vs Cornell; staff prediction

SYRACUSE, NY - DECEMBER 31: Rakeem Christmas
SYRACUSE, NY - DECEMBER 31: Rakeem Christmas

It’s officially Syracuse basketball season on Friday night against Cornell. ITLH predicts what’s going to happen in the season opener.

Paul A. Esden Jr.- Site Expert

Follow: @BoyGreen25

Man time is flying it seems. Already it’s Syracuse basketball season and Christmas is right around the corner and we just saw our first snow in Syracuse. This is an exciting time in Orange. There’s a ton of new pieces for Jim Boeheim to play with, but with that comes time to gel. Heck even LeBron James and the rest of the Miami Heat squad needed some time to figure things out.

Due to the lack of experience many have the Orange missing out on the tourney for the second straight season. I think this team could surprise some people for sure, but this team needs to play together and work out some of the kinks. SU will keep their winning streak alive from exhibition play and win 72 to 50.

Neil Adler- Contributor

What a way to start off the 2017-18 regular season for Syracuse basketball. Our boys in Orange go up against the Big Red of Cornell this Friday night. It’s well documented that SU head coach Jim Boeheim will do battle with one of his sons, Jimmy Boeheim, who is a freshman forward on Cornell.

Given that these two schools are Central New York neighbors, I expect a boisterous crowd at the Carrier Dome. The ‘Cuse has owned the Big Red in this series for decades. We have more talent on our team, although Cornell does possess more experience. I sincerely hope that the Syracuse players do not get complacent with their opponent. They also need to perform better than they did in their two exhibition contests. I think that the Big Red will keep things tight for about 30 minutes, before the Orange accelerates toward the end. SU emerges victorious, 68-56. And Jimmy Boeheim nets 10 points in front of his father!

Andrew Carey- Contributor

Follow: @Papi_Carey

I️ really think Syracuse will struggle in this contest. The Cuse did not look good in the first half of either exhibition game but especially against Southern Connecticut State. The Orange must spark their offense much earlier on in the first half and they will need to score in the half court offense. Boeheim has to rely on his full court press to jump start the Syracuse offense. We’ll see that Friday night, it could be a long year in the Dome. Cuse wins 77-63.

Next: Syracuse Basketball Underwhelms Despite 25-Point Triumph Over SCS

Josh Peelman- Contributor

Follow: @jnpmessenger

Syracuse hasn’t looked pretty these first two exhibition games. The team clearly has talent just very little experience. They could be a better team late in year, but to start off the year they could be real shaky. I still believe the Orange will pull this first home game of the season out, but Cornell should not be taken lightly in this one.

Their players have way more Division I basketball experience than the Orange, so this should be a close game until possibly late second half when the Orange finally catch their stride on offense. Also, keep an eye out for Jim Boeheim’s son on Cornell to score in front of his dad and his hometown Syracuse faithful. Even if it is only a basket or two. Syracuse prevails 74-58