Inside the Loud House
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Syracuse Basketball: Louisville Cardinals ACC Tournament predictions

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 19: Marek Dolezaj #21 of the Syracuse Orange fights for a rebound against Jordan Nwora #33 and David Johnson #13 of the Louisville Cardinals in the first half of a game at KFC YUM! Center on February 19, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Syracuse 90-66. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - FEBRUARY 19: Marek Dolezaj #21 of the Syracuse Orange fights for a rebound against Jordan Nwora #33 and David Johnson #13 of the Louisville Cardinals in the first half of a game at KFC YUM! Center on February 19, 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisville defeated Syracuse 90-66. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Paul A. Esden Jr, Site Expert (16-16)

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I’m speechless quite frankly. Syracuse lost two of its final three games to end the regular season including a horrible loss to Miami on the road. It had many Orange fans feeling some type of way, despite that the team overcame the odds and beat North Carolina in the second round of the ACC Tourney.

Syracuse did enough from long range (7-of-21), still not great and played some solid defense which created 11 steals and forced the Tar Heels into 18 miscues. The other important nugget was how Syracuse started the game and how they finished the first half. It set the tone from the outset and allowed the team to have enough cushion to put the car in cruise control for much of the second half.

Up next for the Orange is a daunting challenge vs another team that crushed them the last time they played in Louisville. The Cardinals won 90 to 66 and crushed Syracuse on the boards (45:36).

Although here’s an interesting nugget, Syracuse is 7-0 when they face teams for a second time this season. This is another chance to add to that impressive streak late on Thursday night.

If Syracuse could play any of the top teams, Louisville would be the team. Obviously they’re talented, but they have vulnerabilities like anyone else. The team’s leading scorer in Jordan Nwora can be dynamic when he’s on, but he isn’t always on.

From sources around the team, Jordan can be a “moody” player that you can mess with in a game to throw him off. The Orange did a solid job with that last time out and he was off. In addition, he has some attitude issues and has been disciplined by the team including being benched on a few occasions.

I’m buying into the hype, Syracuse looked really good vs North Carolina. I’ll take the Orange in the revenge game 80-74 over the Cardinals. 

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