Syracuse Basketball: North Carolina ACC Tournament predictions

Paul A. Esden Jr, Site Expert (16-15)

Syracuse basketball got embarrassed in the regular-season finale on the road vs Miami. The Orange lost to a terrible team, with a bad record, and blew their chance at the fifth seed in the ACC Tournament.

It left a sour taste in every Syracuse fan’s mouth and confidence is at an all-time low for this squad heading into a make-or-break ACC Tournament run. Although the Orange has zero time to feel bad for themselves because they’ve got a very game opponent in the North Carolina Tar Heels on their plate next.

This was the worst-case scenario, UNC is arguably the most dangerous team in this entire ACC Tournament. Don’t be fooled by their piss poor record, this team has capable scorers and is a better rebounding team than the box score indicates.

Just a few games ago the Orange got blown out on their own home floor thanks to a combined 51 points, 16 rebounds, 11 assists, and seven threes from Cole Anthony and Garrison Brooks.

It wasn’t all bad for Syracuse, Bourama Sidibe had his best game in years and the team made some big plays. But their ultimate Achilles heel in this game and for the better part of the last 15 games has been their lack of perimeter presence.

The Orange were 6-of-24 from distance while UNC was 11-of-26 from deep. That’s 15 points, Syracuse lost by 13 to UNC. If this team can stroke it from a different area code, they can win this game, if they can’t, they’ll lose.

Sadly I’ll take North Carolina 90 to 77, hopefully, the Orange proves me wrong.