Syracuse Basketball: What Orange needs to do to crush Georgetown

Syracuse basketball (5-4 overall, 1-0 in the ACC) is back at the JMA Wireless Dome, as the Orange gets set to take on former Big East Conference rival, the Georgetown Hoyas (5-5 overall), at 1 pm on Saturday.

Syracuse, coming off a 95-66 win over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on the Hill, will look for extra motivation in this game, as the Orange will honor its Hall of Fame head coach, Jim Boeheim, and legendary point guard, Dwayne “Pearl” Washington, by inducting them into the SU Athletics Ring of Honor at halftime.

Let’s look at the player to watch and the keys for Syracuse basketball to knock off Georgetown at home.

Player To Watch

Joe Girard III, a senior guard for the Orange, will need to come out firing against the Hoyas from behind the 3-point arc. He will need to bring the heat from long range, make plays for his teammates in the paint and on the perimeter, and Girard will need to get the Orange off to a strong start early in this non-conference game. He scored 18 points and had six assists in the last game against the Golden Grizzlies, and he has been a leader at the guard position so far this season for Syracuse basketball, despite some inconsistent play. Girard will be the key player for the Orange in this big rivalry game.

Keys To The Game

• Start Off Hot– The Orange will need to come into this game firing and passing the basketball early and often to gain a lead early. Syracuse basketball players need to attack Georgetown’s defense to find holes, create opportunities for one another, and find ways to get easy buckets in the paint or from behind the arc.
• Force Mistakes– The Orange needs to apply pressure in this game against the Hoyas by forcing mistakes on both ends of the court. Syracuse basketball will need to get turnovers, force tough shots on defense, and find holes in the Georgetown defense where the Orange can then capitalize.
• Control Their Emotions– The Syracuse Orange has been in the headlines recently due to their conduct on the court, including the slap to the face by Syracuse basketball freshman guard Judah Mintz against the Bryant Bulldogs. Syracuse basketball players have to remain calm, keep their emotions in check, and not let mistakes and fouls get to them.

Prediction

Syracuse basketball is facing its former storied Big East rival at the JMA Wireless Dome on a day when Boeheim and Washington, who was a ‘Cuse legend and sadly passed away in 2016, will both be inducted in the Ring of Honor. Syracuse basketball will look to make this a special Saturday, and I expect the Orange to walk out of the Dome with a three-game winning streak by beating the Hoyas, 76-70.