Syracuse Basketball: Notre Dame Fighting Irish crystal ball predictions

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 16: John Mooney #33 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish shoots over Jack Salt #33 of the Virginia Cavaliers in the first half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on February 16, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

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Paul A. Esden Jr, Site Expert (7-6)

What a crazy ride it’s been for the Syracuse basketball team thus far. Although if we equated this season to a roller coaster ride it would be pretty boring and static, there haven’t been any exciting wins (outside of Georgia Tech), so it’s time to start getting some of those.

If the Orange beat Notre Dame it won’t necessarily be something you slap on the fridge and show momma, but it’d be nice to get.

The fear with this game is the inside presence of John Mooney as most of our contributors will point to, but the key to the game for the Orange is making those triple tries.

Ultimately the team that is successful in that venture will come away with the win.

We know Elijah Hughes can hit the three-ball, but the Orange will need Buddy Boeheim and Joe Girard III to be more consistent. It won’t be easy against the Irish who arguably have the best defense they’ve ever had under Mike Brey.

This won’t be an easy game by any means, but give me the Orange in a pivotal early conference game.

Syracuse 68 Notre Dame 62

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