Syracuse Basketball: Predictions for St. Bonaventure showdown

Paul A. Esden Jr. (8-4)

Prediction: Syracuse wins 77-58

Can I get a full fledged performance from the Orange from start to finish? Is that too much to ask? This Syracuse team has to be one of the most frustrating I’ve ever watched.

Last year, Syracuse had five and a half guys, I understood why that team struggled. Logistically it made sense, if Tyus Battle didn’t drop 20 points, Syracuse probably lost. It made last season somewhat more palpable.

This season? Syracuse returns all five starters, added a ton of new pieces that should provide an offensive punch, and had high expectations heading into the season.

Yet Syracuse has already lost four nonconference games, with one more to go against the Bonnies. The bad news? Jim Boeheim has never gotten a team with four or more nonconference losses to the tourney. The good news? THE ACC.

While on one hand it is the best conference in all of college basketball and that presents many challenges. It also presents many opportunities. Syracuse despite the hole they’ve dug themselves into aren’t finished. As Katie Kolinski told me last week, “championships aren’t won in December.”

The Orange can still turn it around with a good showing in conference play, but that’s where the problem lies. Too many players are looking ahead to holidays and conference play, if they do that St. Bonaventure could beat this team again.

It obviously isn’t as talented as the year prior and the record indicates that, but Syracuse can’t overlook anyone. What we saw in the second half vs Arkansas State though leads me to believe this Syracuse team figured it out a little bit, if they can take that and start the Bonnies game with it, we could see our first complete game of the season. Give me Syracuse 77-58.