Syracuse Basketball: Syracuse vs Cavaliers; staff prediction

The Syracuse basketball team gets a chance at redemption against the Virginia Cavaliers. ITLH breaks down the potential for an upset.

Paul A. Esden Jr.- Site Expert (16-6)

Follow: @BoyGreen25

I talked about this on the radio this week. Sometimes things happen that are beyond human explanation. Big Foot, alien invasions, and Syracuse beating the No. 2 team in the country. I don’t know why I think SU will find a way to beat the Cavaliers (they would be only the second team this year to accomplish that feat).

In their first matchup earlier this season SU traveled down to Blacksburg and put up a really good fight, so moral cookie there. While Virginia has since taken cookies from everyone with a 13-game winning streak and looking unstoppable defensively. It’s one of those situations where my mind is saying no, but my body is telling me yes. Syracuse wins 66-65 in a nailbiter.

Neil Adler- Contributor (18-4)

The Syracuse basketball squad, after putting up an offensive stinker on Wednesday night in a loss at Georgia Tech, seeks some redemption when it hosts No. 2 Virginia this Saturday afternoon. The Cavaliers (21-1, 10-0) are riding extraordinarily high, having claimed 13 straight victories, including recent successes at home versus Louisville, and on the road against No. 4 Duke. SU (15-7, 4-5), meanwhile, saw its modest three-game winning streak come to a halt after the Orange couldn’t buy a basket in its tilt with the Yellow Jackets.

Last month, the ‘Cuse hung tough at UVA before succumbing by seven points. While Syracuse did knock off a top-10 Virginia outfit inside the Carrier Dome a season ago, I simply don’t think that this year’s crew can score sufficiently to upset the Cavaliers. Although the contest should remain close, UVA eventually pulls away from SU, 67-63.

Andrew Carey- Contributor (15-5)

I’m at a real cross roads with this Syracuse basketball team. On one hand I realize that they are terrible on offense, have zero depth, and have a coach that is too stubborn to change his old ways.

On the other hand, this Syracuse team plays harder than almost any other team that I have ever seen, and I think that is why they are able to keep these games close and muck it up. But with #2 UVA (21-1 10-0) coming into town this weekend, the Howard Washington injury, and the minutes starting to take a tole on the six healthy scholarship players, a Syracuse win seems to far fetched.

I certainly hope I’m wrong, but it will be tough. If Syracuse limit can Kyle Guy, Ty Jerome, and Devon Hall from behind the 3-point arc, Syracuse will have a fighting chance. If ever there was a time to come out and shoot hot from the floor, this game is that. The Cavaliers can’t afford Battle or Brissett shooting well from the field. If those two are scoring well, Syracuse can make things interesting. In the end, I just think Syracuse fails to execute down the stretch and they fall, 68-66.

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Josh Peelman- Contributor (17-5)

Follow: @jnpmessenger

I think all true Syracuse basketball fans know the Orange need to win this one (or another ranked opponent) really soon to salvage their season. Even though this game is at home, Virginia is considered by many to be the best team in the nation, even over Villanova. To beat them would help the Orange’s March resume tremendously including their RPI which took a hit after the loss to Georgia Tech on the road Wednesday night. To beat what many consider is the best team out there will not only bring a ton of confidence to this team going forward, but it will help the selection committees view of them if the eye test is used to pick the last few selections for the NCAA tournament. I think the Orange will shock everyone and go out and win this one in front of a packed house at Home. Since the Orange were close earlier in ACC to beating Virginia, I think they’ll find it easier this time around. Orange win by a small margin, 65-60.