The 14th seed Syracuse Orange begin ACC Tournament play this afternoon against the 11th seed SMU Mustangs. The Orange won the regular season meeting 79-78 on a Nate Kingz drive in the final seconds- it’s the last game the Orange have won this season. Now with both teams on a losing streak, they meet in the middle game of today’s triple-header in Charlotte.
The game tips at 4:30 pm on ACC Network with the winner moving on to face Louisville tomorrow at 2:30. Here’s what we’re watching for:
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Kevin: Stand up or roll over?
I don’t think this Syracuse team has quit on each other or the coaching staff, but they are also not locked in. Will they finally show some consistent fight now that it’s truly win or go home? Or will they get to Charlotte and realize that it’s time to head back to Syracuse and pack it up? With so much upheaval coming this is a final chance for players to make an impression on their next coaching staff, so what will they show?
Dom: Can revenge not be served cold?
Syracuse notably stormed back from a deficit to get by the Mustangs back in mid-February. Nearly a full month later, and the Orange haven’t won a game since. SMU is a team out for blood and desperately needs this win to get itself closer to the bubble. It will come out with all the urgency possible to win and advance. If the Orange don’t get out to a start and show the energy early, this will be over within the first 10 minutes.
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Szuba: Boopie versus the 2-3 zone; Syracuse freshmen
In the first meeting Syracuse played predominantly 2-3 zone, which was by and large ineffective. What it did do, however, was limit Boopie Miller from driving the lane and going on a scoring spree. He was held in check to a season-low 11 points. Does Autry bust out the zone again for this matchup? Elsewhere, Sadiq White is listed as probable to play and Kiyan Anthony was listed as questionable. Do those guys get any run after sitting out last game? Anthony was instrumental in Syracuse’s second half comeback during the first meeting between these two squads.
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What are you watching for today?
