Ryan Lee, contributor (21-7)
In this pivotal final five games for Syracuse, they have checked off their first win and move on to their next opponent. That opponent is the North Carolina Tar Heels. In the final contest for the Syracuse Men’s Basketball team under the currently constructed Carrier Dome, a surprising last-place team comes to town.
UNC has been the recipient of a ton of bad luck this year. Injuries have piled up as leaders Cole Anthony and Brandon Robinson have both missed serval games this year. Freshman hopeful Anthony Harris went out for the season. Only Armando Bacot and Christian Keeling have played in all 28 games for the Tar Heels.
North Carolina is most likely going to finish with an under .500 record for the first time since 2001-02. The Tar Heels do not have the talent Syracuse fans have grown accustomed to since the Orange’s arrival in the ACC.
However, the Tar Heels will still present issues so ignore the 11-17 record. North Carolina still offers one of the top guards in the country in Cole Anthony.
A future lottery NBA pick has shot a low percentage from the field and from three this year but still averages 19.4 points a game. Some of that has been due to his ability to get to the line 6.5 times a contest. With Syracuse’s guards struggling to keep men in front of them and big men failing to defend without fouling look for North Carolina to look for ways to allow Anthony to drive and slash through the Orange’s zone.
Another worrisome matchup point is the big guys. Bacot and Garrison Brooks can be a nightmare inside with each averaging over eight rebounds a game with more than 2.5 each coming on the offensive side.
This will be the big test to make sure Bourama Sidibe was not just a fluke the last two games out. Sidibe if he can duplicate his previous performance again, could swing the entire game to Syracuse’s favor. It is not just with consistent rebounding by the defense. Being confident and active and understanding he will pick up fouls.
In the past, Sidibe has shown frustration that has snowballed when he picks up early fouls. Against Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech Sidibe has been able to play a clean game early which has allowed him to pick up eight steals and five blocks combined the last two games.
Sidibe’s presence and Elijah Hughes will be the keys for the Orange who might be without Buddy Boeheim who is a game-time decision. Look for the Orange to play a tight one at home but finish the home slate with a victory.
Syracuse 81 North Carolina 76