Syracuse returns to the hardwood Saturday afternoon as the Orange welcomes the Boston College Eagles to the Dome. Here’s what to watch for.
- Teams: Syracuse Orange (13-12, 7-7 ACC) v. Boston College Eagles (9-15, 5-10)
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 19
- Game Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y.
- Network: ESPNU
Steve Auger
Fearless Prediction: Syracuse 79, Boston College 64
The Juice Online Season Record: 11-3 (ACC)
The Orange will have had an entire week to dwell upon its 71-59 loss at Virginia Tech. That loss snapped a season-high 4-game win streak for Syracuse.
The game against BC is a rematch of their February 8 contest – a 73-64 road win for Syracuse. That game was a bit of a rock fight as both teams shot below 40 percent from the floor The difference was Syracuse excelled from three – sinking 11-of-24 – and was nearly flawless at the charity stripe – making 14-of-16 attempts.
BC is coming off a 99-95 OT loss at Notre Dame. The setback was the fourth in a row for Earl Grant’s crew.
The Eagles have struggled from to score the ball from the perimeter all season long. BC is last in the ACC from three converting at a rate of just 30.3 percent. The Eagles’ weakness is Syracuse’s strength. The Orange is third in the conference in three-point shooting knocking down 38 percent of their triples.
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Cole Swider torched BC in the first matchup scoring 21 points, including 6-of-11 on 3s, while grabbing a team-high eight rebounds.
This will also be Syracuse’s second full game without Jesse Edwards at center. The junior was lost for the season against BC when he fractured his left wrist. Syracuse will need Frank Anselem to step up again like he did at Virginia Tech when he hauled in 15 rebounds.
Syracuse allowed BC to hang around in the first matchup. That won’t happen again in the rematch.
BC will fight, scratch, and claw for Earl Grant as they have all year. But Syracuse will get hot from outside and hold a comfortable lead for most of the second half as they cruise to a 79-64 win.
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