Paul A. Esden Jr, Site Expert (3-1)
Despite only being three games into this season, a lot has happened on the hill.
Syracuse made a starting lineup change throwing Jalen Carey to the curb for Joe Girard III. Then Carey didn’t play a minute. Then it was announced that Carey was having thumb surgery that would force him into a medical redshirt thus ruling him out for the rest of the season. Weird.
While you feel bad for Jalen, it’s part of basketball, which means someone else will have to step up to the plate.
Insert Howard Washington.
It’s finally his time to shine. He’s healthy, players continue to call him the smartest player on the team who has a super high basketball IQ. Allowing him to run the second unit for the Orange would be a smart decision.
We’ll get to see Howard and the rest of the guards figure out the rotation vs Bucknell at noon in the dome.
The Bison aren’t nearly as talented as the Orange, but they can’t be overlooked.
This is as close to a trap game as you can possibly find in college basketball. Next week Syracuse will be in the Barclays Center against some upper-tier competition, it’s paramount for the Orange to secure a win Saturday and most importantly get this team firing on all cylinders.
With JG3 at the helm, they’ve gotten off to quick offensive starts, but they’ve found themselves in lulls in the middle of the game. We need to see a balance offensively, with the deep game and pounding the interior with Quincy Guerrier and Marek Dolezaj.
Give me the Orange 75-62 over the Bison.