One of the biggest matchups of the season has the Syracuse basketball squad traveling to play one of the best teams in the country in Kansas.
Paul A. Esden Jr.- Site Expert (6-0)
Follow: @BoyGreen25
What a monumental game college basketball game we have on Saturday night! So much history with this matchup and both teams are coming into this one undefeated. The latest news of Geno Thorpe leaving the team is crazy. Especially when you consider Taurean Thompson and the way he left back in August. This team will be limited at the guard position, but nothing they can’t handle. The true barometer of how good this team can do on Saturday is Tyus Battle’s health status. I think this game is close, but SU loses a tight one, 80-77.
Neil Adler- Contributor (5-1)
The Syracuse basketball squad faces its most-stern test of the young 2017-18 season when it squares off with No. 2 Kansas this Saturday in Miami. Both teams are 6-0 at this juncture, although the Jayhawks have already bested a highly ranked Kentucky outfit. SU, meanwhile, scored a tight, and impressive, win over Maryland this past Monday night.
The Orange is riding a wave of positive momentum, however, sophomore sensation Tyus Battle has to get back to full strength for the ‘Cuse to have any reasonable chance at dethroning Kansas, in my humble opinion. I picked the Terrapins to beat Syracuse, and SU emerged victorious. So I’ll do the same for the Jayhawks affair. Kansas squeaks by the Orange, 76-70. Now prove me wrong, ‘Cuse Nation!
Andrew Carey- Contributor (4-0)
This contest between Syracuse and Kansas features two undefeated teams going at it. Kansas has blown everybody out of the water so far, besides four point win against Kentucky. Kansas has been scoring a boatload of points, so the Orange 2-3 will need to be excellent.
Kansas has a major advantage beyond the 3 point line. Svi Mykhailiuk is shooting 51.5% from 3 on the season, while guys like Malik Newman, Devonte’ Graham, and LaGerald Vick are all threats from deep. Syracuse has a major advantage on the glass however, and if they intend to win they will need to own a significant rebounding advantage. Ultimately I think KU will be too much from 3, but the Orange keep it close and fall, 72-66.
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Josh Peelman- Contributor (6-0)
Follow: @jnpmessenger
Syracuse got a huge momentum building win over Maryland in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge on Monday. The Terrapins weren’t ranked coming into that game, but they have a team that’s good enough to get in the NCAA tournament at the end of the year. The Orange prevailed though and hope to use than win as a stepping stone to the big matchup versus Kansas in the Miami Hoophall Invitational.
The Jayhawks are ranked #2 in the nation behind a juggernaut Duke squad. As such, the Orange know they will have to play to near perfection to pull this one out. The Orange are young and inexperienced, however, their offense is finally starting to click. If the Orange can have yet another balanced scoring attack led by the much improved Frank Howard and block shots like they have all season then they have a good chance to pull the upset. As for me, I think the Orange start to fade and struggle in the second half of this one and lose 75-63. Sorry Cuse fans! The 6-0 streak to start the season was nice, but it had to end sometime.