Syracuse will try to move back over .500 and make it two in a row against Florida State on Saturday. Here’s a preview of the game.
- Teams: Syracuse Orange (8-9, 2-4 ACC) v. Clemson Tigers (10-7, 2-4)
- Date: Tuesday, Jan. 18
- Game Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
- Network: ACC Network
Steve Auger
Fearless Prediction: Syracuse 79, Clemson 76
The Juice Online Season Record: 5-1 (ACC)
Syracuse plays host to the Clemson Tigers tonight as both teams look to gain some traction in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
The Orange is fresh off a 76-71 home loss to Florida State. Defense was again a familiar problem as Syracuse allowed the Seminoles to shoot a whopping 60 percent – 12-of-20 – from beyond the arc. The loss dropped Syracuse to 2-4 in league play and a game under .500 on the season at 8-9.
The Orange has now lost four of their last five. The schedule doesn’t get any easier with a trip to Duke on the docket for Saturday.
» Related: Syracuse is in danger of having a losing record for the first time under Boeheim
Clemson comes into the game on a bit of a skid. The Tigers have lost three of four, including back-to-back games against Notre Dame and Boston College. The Irish pounded Clemson, 72-56. The Tigers coughed up a 23-point in the home loss to the Eagles.
The Tigers, like the Orange, are 2-4 in league play. This is the only regular season meeting between the two squads. And with both teams struggling, they’ll each be looking to capitalize on the other.
Defense continues to be a season-long problem for Jim Boeheim’s squad.
Syracuse allowed Virginia to shoot 52.6 percent overall from the field while Miami sank 71-of-32 three-point shots. The Orange committed ten more fouls than Wake Forest. That gave the Deacs 11 more free throw attempts on an overtime game that was decided by three points.
This one could be decided from behind the three-point line. Clemson and Syracuse rank No. 3 and 4 in the ACC in three-point shooting percentage. Despite their defensive shortcomings, Syracuse will be a bit more accurate from three and sneak out a win.
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