The Syracuse basketball team has not done too well in recent weeks. They have lost to the likes of Miami, Villanova and Georgetown. In the meantime, they have made the ACC tournament and are now preparing to go on the road for the Big East championship.
ACC rivalry with Villanova
If you’re looking for a big game this season, you’ll want to look for the Syracuse-Villanova rivalry. This rivalry has produced some memorable games over the years, including two national championships and an NCAA record on-campus crowd.
Villanova is one of the top college basketball programs in the country, but it also has some serious holes in its roster. The team has a solid three-point shooting force, but the offensive efficiency numbers are not impressive. It’s not a very good rebounding team, and it lacks the depth to change up its looks.
Meanwhile, Syracuse is not far behind in the 3-point shooting category. Their effective field goal percentage ranks 274th, but the team does have a few pieces in place to make that happen.
While it hasn’t been a great year for the Orange, it has gotten off to a strong start, putting up an impressive road win at Florida State last week. They were able to put up a 63-60 victory in Tallahassee.
ACC rivalry with Georgetown
The Georgetown Hoyas and the Syracuse Orangemen have been playing each other for over 90 years. These two teams are among the most well-known rivals in college basketball, and the games they play have been memorable over the years.
It’s no secret that Jim Boeheim, who led the Orange to a National Championship in 2003, has left his mark on the school. However, his impact on the program wasn’t limited to the court.
Jim’s son, Patrick Ewing, is the current head coach at his alma mater. He led the Hoyas to a Big East title and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Despite its absence from the Big East, the rivalry continues to thrive. The two schools have a long history of rivalry, dating back to their days as Hatfields and McCoys of the Big East.
In the modern era, the rivalry has morphed into a competitive affair. For example, the two teams are tied at 2-2.
ACC rivalry with Miami
Syracuse basketball’s ACC rivalry with Miami is a historic one. It’s also an annual rivalry that dates back to 1953. The two teams have met on the road or at home for the past 60 years. In fact, the game that kicked off the series was played to determine a BCS bowl berth.
After a four-year hiatus, the two teams resumed their rivalry last season. Syracuse led the first eight minutes before a 30-12 run by the Hurricanes got the two teams serious.
The two schools were both ranked in the Top 25. Earlier this year, the two teams fought in the league title game. Now, they are set to compete in the ACC Championship in Charlotte.
The Miami Hurricanes are ranked 15th in the latest NCAA RPI. They have a bye this weekend, but play Duke twice on the road in the second month of the conference schedule.
The Hurricanes have won nine straight games and are a match up ahead of Florida State in the ACC standings. They are the only team in the conference with a road win.
SU basketball’s recent struggles
Since a 20-0 start, Syracuse men’s basketball has lost three games in a row. On Tuesday night, the Orange lost to #16 Illinois 73-44. That puts Syracuse at 3-4 on the season.
The loss to Illinois was the third time in five games that Syracuse has been embarrassed. This marks the first time that the Orange has not been in the win column since 1968-69.
Virginia is in the midst of a rough stretch of its own. They are averaging just 51.5 points per game in their last five games. And they are coming off a loss to Saint Bonaventure on Friday.
Joe Girard is fighting a shooting slump. He is averaging just over 13 points per game.
Jesse Edwards has been one of the most versatile players on the roster. He averages nearly 69% shooting from the field and is averaging just over 10 rebounds per game. In the past two games, he has also added a couple of blocks.
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