Syracuse Basketball: Players to watch, keys for Orange vs. Colgate

Syracuse basketball (1-0 overall) is looking to keep the momentum going to start the new season, as they get ready to take on the Colgate Raiders (0-1 overall) at the JMA Wireless Dome this coming Tuesday at 7 pm eastern time.

The Orange are coming off a 90-72 victory over the Lehigh Mountain Hawks on Monday.

Here are my players to watch, the keys for Syracuse basketball and a prediction against Colgate.

Players To Watch

• Joseph Girard lll – Girard, a senior shooting guard who had a 19-point performance against Lehigh, will look to stay hot from behind the three-point arc for the Orange, as he was able to shoot four of six from behind the arc. He will need to come into this game firing from behind the three-point arc, attacking the basket, and creating opportunities for his teammates during the game.
• Jesse Edwards – Edwards, the senior center who had an 18-point, 11-rebound performance against Lehigh, is looking to become a leader out there for the Orange. He has the ability to protect the rim on defense, attack the glass on the offensive end, and knock down the easy free throws, making him the player that the Orange can rely on.

Keys To The Game

1. More Assists – Syracuse basketball only had a total of 12 assists during their game against Lehigh. The Orange has to open the court for one another, finding the open man for the easy basket, and creating plays that will help them increase the lead.
2. Limit Turnovers – Syracuse basketball had a total of 13 turnovers against the Mountain Hawks. The Orange will need to limit the turnovers, make clean passes, and not force the ball in situations that will lead to turnovers late in the game.
3. Lock Down the Zone – After watching the last game against the Mountain Hawks, the Syracuse basketball defense needs to prevent the opponents from attacking the middle of the zone and spreading the zone wide. Syracuse needs to play a tight zone, not allow any easy baskets, and make the opponents take the tough shots.

Prediction

Syracuse basketball is off to a hot start to the new season under head coach Jim Boeheim, who is in his 47th season as the Orange head coach, and is looking to keep the momentum against Colgate. The Orange will need to get off to a fast start offensively, not allow any easy baskets on defense, and make the most of their opportunities throughout the game. Syracuse basketball will walk out of the Dome with an 85-69 win over Colgate.