Syracuse Orange Men’s Basketball: Predictions, Poll vs Virginia, and Game Analysis

The Syracuse Orange are bound for Charlottesville for their inaugural road game of the 2023-24 season. The Virginia Cavaliers are coming off a significant victory over Texas A&M, and they’re aiming to secure a win in this game to catapult back into the Top 25 for the following week.

What are our predictions for Saturday’s game?

Mike: Virginia 65, Syracuse 53

Don’t anticipate a high-scoring game from the beginning as both teams are likely to play at a slow pace. J.J. Starling might have an opportunity to improve his shooting given Judah Mintz’s standout performance in the previous game. Nevertheless, UVA’s shooting won’t be as poor as LSU‘s, which will give them a slight edge over Syracuse.

Max: Virginia 62, Syracuse 51

UVA’s defense appears to be stronger than ever, allowing the second-lowest points per game in the nation (52.9). With an almost year-long unbeaten home record, it’s difficult for me to favor the Orange on the road. Syracuse struggled to score in the Maui Invitational against Tennessee and Gonzaga, making it unlikely for them to outplay legendary Virginia coach Tony Bennett in Charlottesville.

Kevin: Virginia 69, Syracuse 62

I expect this game to be closer, but after observing the Orange in Hawaii, I doubt their ability to score in the half-court against a formidable Virginia team. The Cavaliers will aim to force someone other than Judah Mintz to step up. Can Syracuse deliver another strong performance from beyond the arc? This will be a tough test for Adrian Autry, and I believe it’s premature for this team to secure a major road win.

Dom: Virginia 64, Syracuse 56

It seems that we all share the same concerns — their recent matchups suggest this game will be a low-scoring, defensive battle. Mintz is likely to deliver his 18-25 points, but will the rest of the Orange step up? Virginia also has the fifth-best three-point shooting rate in the ACC, compared to Syracuse’s fifth-worst standing, making it difficult for the Orange to amass enough points for an early-season upset.

Szuba: Virginia 61, Syracuse 55

This promises to be an engaging match between two of the ACC’s premier backcourts. Virginia isn’t exceptional at rebounding, so it will be intriguing to see if the Orange can contain Ryan Dunn. However, Tony Bennett’s stifling defense will likely slow down the pace of the game, making it challenging for Syracuse to find easy scoring opportunities. It seems like the Orange will be forced to take a lot of contested mid-range shots, which isn’t a favorable strategy against Virginia on their home court.

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