Inside the Loud House
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Syracuse Basketball: Clemson Tigers crystal ball predictions

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 24: Members of the Clemson Tigers celebrate their 62-60 overtime victory over the TCU Horned Frogs during the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 24, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 24: Members of the Clemson Tigers celebrate their 62-60 overtime victory over the TCU Horned Frogs during the MGM Resorts Main Event basketball tournament at T-Mobile Arena on November 24, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Joe Arrigo, contributor (14-6)

Syracuse games are now must-see TV!

Looking back on this past couple of weeks, I never thought the Orange would be in this position. Syracuse is in 4th place in the ACC somehow! If Syracuse could stay in 4th place come Selection Sunday, they will make the Big Dance.

I don’t care if they don’t beat a ranked team again for the rest of the season! It’s still been a down year for Syracuse overall, but they have a great chance to take advantage of a very week ACC this season.

As for the Clemson game, they clearly will be a tough opponent. The Tigers recently beat Duke on their home court rather easily, but they are only 10-9 on the season. I feel like this game will come down to how Clemson approaches this game. Syracuse is not Duke, so the Tigers won’t be running through a brick wall with emotion like they probably did when they faced the Blue Devils. On the other hand, Clemson just got smoked by Louisville 80-62, so maybe they are ready to get back on the court and looking for revenge.

Either way, this game will come down to the wire. The key to me will be if Marek Dolezaj will be able to continue to give the Orange some low post scoring. I know Hughes will get his. Buddy Boeheim has been on fire lately. Joe Girard hasn’t been scoring as much but he has been very stable at point guard. Dolezaj is the one who makes this team dangerous. He needs to stay out of foul trouble and try to hold his own down low on defense.

Syracuse is playing so well I just can’t pick against them. They have been locked in mentally for the last couple weeks and they look like they are on a mission.

FINAL SCORE 
SYRACUSE 70 Clemson 67

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