Well, here we are again. Syracuse is playing a basketball game tomorrow. This is important because Syracuse has not been particularly good at playing basketball the last few times they have tried. Tomorrow is an opportunity to turn it around and get a win for the first time in almost two weeks. God that’s depressing.
A Look Back
Last time out the Orange suffered a frustrating defeat at the hands of the Marquette Golden Eagles in the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. To be sure, no shame comes from losing to a top tier Big East team on the road, unless of course it comes at the hands of a chubby guy whose biggest accomplishment in life before Monday was “Burrito Champ” at the lower Milwaukee bean festival.
The Louisville Cardinals
When we last visited this matchup, we were treated to a fantastic game with a dazzling finish in which Michael Carter-Williams, literally by himself, stole away the win at the YUM OOOOH DAMN THIS CHICKEN IS GOOD Center, or whatever Kentuckians call it these days (Kentuckians? Kentuckites? Maybe it’s Kentuckers) Those were good times, weren’t they? Times when it felt like we had a legitimate POY candidate at point guard and times when our three point shooting was well above the success rate of contestants on Legends of the Hidden Temple (It’s getting dangerously close). Fair to say Pitino and the gang will want revenge for that one, and fair to say they have a good shot at it.
The Cardinals are led by senior point guard Peyton Siva and junior guard Russ Smith. Though Louisville also struggles from three point range, these guards have the ability to force turnovers perhaps better than anyone in college basketball, leading to fast break opportunities and quick points. Inside the Cardinals have Gorgui Dieng, a capable presence who will get his 10 and 10, and also Chane Behanan, who literally ended a Depaul bros life with a dunk earlier this week. You probably didn’t hear about it because it was Depaul.
What to Look For
Look for Dajuan Coleman to return for the first time in a month, in an effort by Boeheim to establish some kind of inside presence. Also, look for Louisville to pressure Carter-Williams and force him into some bad decisions, but I also expect a much better game from MCW than we have seen recently. Look for Brandon Triche to contribute somehow, because OH GOD IS HE REALLY THIS BAD? Finally, look for Jerami Grant. He got lost and no one can find him so please just look for him?
Prediction
College basketball is too bonkers this year to even come close to making an accurate prediction, but I’ll say Syracuse’s guards rebound for one game and Syracuse squeaks out a close one 70-67
Enjoy the game, everybody.
Aggro Swag 