Syracuse basketball doesn’t want to get swept by the Panthers.
Syracuse basketball is only 10 games into its 2020-21 campaign, so it’s probably a stretch to label the Orange’s road contest at Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon as a must-win affair.
However, there are a variety of reasons why the ‘Cuse really, really could use a conquest of the Panthers inside the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh.
First and foremost, a success over Pitt would prove a confidence booster. The Orange (7-3) hung around with North Carolina in Chapel Hill this past Tuesday evening, but ultimately the Tar Heels prevailed by a half-dozen points.
What’s more, on Jan. 6, the ‘Cuse held an 18-point advantage versus the Panthers on the Hill, only to fall in heart-breaking fashion by three points. Plus, against Pittsburgh, the Panthers were minus four of their players, including their top guy, sophomore forward Justin Champagnie.
Per this report by Donna Ditota of Syracuse.com, who quoted Pitt head coach Jeff Capel, it doesn’t look as if Champagnie will suit up this coming Saturday, either, and that’s a huge void to fill for the Panthers. He averages about 18 points and 12 rebounds a game.
Road victories in the Atlantic Coast Conference are going to prove vital for Syracuse basketball as it seeks to build up a strong Big Dance resume. If the Orange was to get beat a second time during the 2020-21 regular season by Pittsburgh, that would not be a good thing.
Thus, the ‘Cuse needs to take care of business versus the Panthers away from the Carrier Dome to avoid a regular-stanza sweep. Such an outcome, hopefully, would also help erase from Syracuse basketball players’ memory the collapse they suffered against Pitt earlier this month.
Syracuse basketball has to exact revenge on Pittsburgh this Saturday.
Even though the Orange is on the road Jan. 16 versus the Panthers (6-2), if Pitt is once again down Champagnie and possibly other players, there’s really no excuse for the ‘Cuse to not emerge with a success.
Pittsburgh is not a terrific scoring team, and the Panthers don’t shoot especially well from the field as a whole, as well as from beyond the arc.
Similar to North Carolina, Pitt is a physical team, an excellent rebounding squad, and it thrives on acquiring second-chance points via the offensive glass.
As the Panthers prepare to host Syracuse basketball this Saturday beginning at 12 pm, the Orange is absolutely on the proverbial bubble.
Before its loss to the Tar Heels, the ‘Cuse was either among the last four in or the first four out of various projected mock fields of 68 from some bracketologists. Getting bested by UNC didn’t help things, and Syracuse basketball wants to move back into the win column and even up its ACC mark at 2-2.
Additionally, through Jan. 13, the Orange possessed a NET ranking of No. 47, as compared to No. 62 for Pittsburgh. The ‘Cuse has to keep on pushing its NET rating in a positive direction if it hopes to go dancing in March.