Syracuse Basketball: Wake Forest Demon Deacons crystal ball predictions
Ryan Lee, contributor (16-6)
Syracuse basketball has lost two in a row. Their last time out Duke confirmed what we all knew, Syracuse was not in the category of top teams yet this season. But a young Orange team competed and proved how important the possible reps in the NCAA Tournament can be.
The ACC might be a league with only three bids. Outside the three locks, Duke, Louisville, and Florida State, any other teams have work to do. Virginia currently has a half-game lead on the Orange for the 4th spot in the ACC. North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, and Clemson are all a game behind Syracuse and all of them currently seem to be long shots.
A team that is far from being even a long shot is Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are tied for last place in the conference, 3-and-8. Wake Forest is now a much win game, it is a bubble popping loss. Wake Forest has lost seven of their past nine. That includes a loss to conference leader Louisville their last time out.
In their match up with Syracuse, it might be a time to flex the Orange’s zone. After giving up 97 their last time out they are playing a team who is one of the worst teams in the nation protecting the ball.
According to Barttrvik.com, the Demon Deacons turn the ball over on 20.5 percent of their possessions ranks 263rd in the nation. That’s problematic for any team. If they could limit their turnovers they could improve on their respectable 106.4 adjusted offensive efficiency.
Wake Forest really only has one zone buster and the name might be familiar. A team that has shot only 32 percent from deep does possess senior Andrien White. White started three years for the Charlotte 49ers. White took the transfer road just like his brother Andrew White III, former Syracuse gunslinger.
White has hit 39.6 percent of his threes a game this year on just under five attempts a game. Forward Ismael Massoud, a 6-foot-8 freshman has hit 22 of his 58 attempts this year a 37.9 percent clip.
Along with leading scorers Brandon Childress, Oliver Sarr, Chaundee Brown Syracuse will have their hands full even in a game against the quality of opponent. Sarr is averaging almost a double-double from the center position and can give the Orange similar problems that Tevin Mack and Vernon Carey Jr., gave Orange during their two-game losing streak.
Syracuse could lose this game. Even for a team that could receive a double-bye in the ACC Tournament, the separation is not that great but their margin of error is even slimmer. Syracuse needs and will take care of business.
Syracuse 88 Wake Forest 78