The Syracuse Orange are not the best team in the NCAA and are not even seeded, but they are not having a terrible season by any means. Playing .500 basketball in the ACC, the team in 8th with a 3-3 record, but that is as bad as it gets for a team that is 9-4 overall and on a two-game winning streak. Granted, every time Syracuse has lost, it has been ugly, except that Pittsburgh game, which was very close to the very end. However, that game came on the backdrop on a two-week layoff after the games against Notre Dame and Wake Forest were postponed. Going into the next stretch of matches against Virginia, NC State, and Louisville, the Orange will be looking to prove they can do better than three-game winning streaks and certainly better than 3-3 ACC basketball. For those of us wanting to get some skin in the game, this should be just right, and a FOX bet PA promo code or any other freebie should come in handy and make it an even enticing investment.
Syracuse has been playing well, but it is the presence and performance of the three Forwards Alan Griffin, Marek Dolezaj, and Quincy Guerrier, which are the real barometers of how far the team can go this season. All three of them have been exceptional both individually and as part of a well-oiled machine under coach Jim Boeheim.
Marek Dolezaj
Perhaps, the most significant improvement for this senior-year player has been his free-throw shooting. Barely making 59% from the stripe two years ago, Dolezaj has become an 89% shooter from the line this season. Coupled with steady hands and a good eye for offensive rebounds, Dolezaj leads the team in free-throw efficiency for players who have shot more than ten free-throws. 46-54 from the line this season, the 6-10 Forward is converting 85% of his chances at the line while stuffing the stat sheet as well with averages of 11.1 pts, 3.4 ast, 5.3 reb, 1.2 steals, and 0.90 blocks.
Alan Griffin
Now in his junior year, Griffin is 6-5 and a problem. A pesky defender with an offensive touch, Griffin is coming into his own this season. Averaging the fourth-highest minutes on the team, Griffin has missed all but one game this season and is the team’s second-best offensive option. Averaging 15.7 pts on 46-35-83 shooting, he is proving himself to be quite a handful, but what makes him stand out is his tenacious defense. He is only behind Guerrier in rebounds for the team, averaging 7.2 a game, and leading the roster in blocks at 1.6 per game.
Quincy Guerrier
He is the standout name in this year’s Orange effort. Quincy has been unstoppable and brilliant for Syracuse. Coach Jim Boeheim knows he can always count on the 6-7 sophomore talent. Not only is he a problem, but he is also efficient. Guerrier leads on both ends of the floor, literally, with the best offensive and defensive stats.