The Syracuse basketball squad continues its brutal three-game road trip with a vital tilt on Wednesday at Boston College.
The SU hoops outfit got out-rebounded last Saturday against then-No. 10 Virginia Tech, one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s shortest teams, in a 22-point, deflating loss that halted its winning streak at three. If the ‘Cuse (14-6, 5-2) wants to conquer Boston College (11-7, 2-4) on Wednesday evening at the Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass., the Orange absolutely has to dominate the glass.
Don’t let the Eagles’ record to date in the 2018-19 campaign fool you. This is a solid crew with an elite guard in junior Ky Bowman, who is third in the ACC in scoring, at 20.5 points per contest, to go along with 8.1 boards and 3.6 assists.
So far in the present term, BC is averaging slightly more total rebounds than Syracuse every 40 minutes. Interestingly enough, the Eagles grab more defensive boards, while SU is a tad better in securing offensive rebounds. Something, it seems, will have to give.
Overall, the ‘Cuse has a decisive edge in its long-time series with Boston College, however, the programs have split the past four encounters, with each group succeeding on its own turf. In their most-recent duel, the Eagles blasted the Orange, 85-70, at home on Feb. 28, 2018.
Now, SU has proven a strong unit in true road affairs in 2018-19, at least up until the Hokies debacle. In all fairness, though, VT is a superior opponent as compared to Boston College, with the Hokies perfect at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va., and the Eagles a more pedestrian 7-4 at the Conte Forum.
Syracuse, with a NCAA NET ranking of No. 48, needs to experience a positive result versus BC, which is 118th in the same rating system. Not only does the Orange want to remain near the top of the ACC standings, it also could use numerous additional victories beyond the Hill for its Big Dance resume.
As it currently stands, the ‘Cuse is viewed by the bevy of bracketologists as earning a No. 9 seed for the NCAA Tournament. Yet if SU sees a setback to the Eagles, and also at Pittsburgh next weekend, Syracuse could find itself projected outside the field of 68. Thus, this duo of games is quite important for our boys in Orange.
Because Boston College doesn’t shoot extremely well from downtown (there, I just jinxed it), I believe that the ‘Cuse can pack in its 2-3 zone and clog the middle more than it should against a squad such as Virginia Tech, which excels at making 3-pointers.
A huge challenge for SU is cutting off Bowman’s driving lanes to the basket, while pressuring him into mistakes, as Bowman commits three turnovers per contest. Still, the Eagles roster has three other dudes who generate a minimum of 13 points, so Syracuse’s defense will have its hands full.
Speaking of defense, BC allows more than 72 points every time out, and the ‘Cuse has to take advantage of what I deem a higher level of talent.
When the Eagles headed to the Hokies in early January, Boston College only lost by 11. A few days ago, in an identical circumstance, SU fell by twice as much. This match-up with the Eagles is no cakewalk, and the Orange has to compete with aggression, grit and a sense of urgency.