The Syracuse Orange (15-11, 6-7) bring a two-game winning streak to Durham to face the #4 Duke Blue Devils (23-2, 12-1). Tip-off is 7:00 on ESPN and here’s what we’re watching for tonight:
Kevin: Play clean
The Orange won two home games despite late-game turnovers, missed free throws down the stretch and allowing SMU to dominate the offensive glass. They can’t expect to keep playing this way and win at Duke.You need to play with poise and put the pressure on the young Blue Devils by executing and keeping it close. Syracuse needs to play loose, but not play loose if you know what I mean.
Dom: All comes down to rebounding
Against SMU, the Orange were -5 on the offensive glass while the Mustangs scored 21 more second-chance points. Late rallies toward the end of both halves kept the Orange in it, but that same luxury won’t be afforded against a team like Duke. On paper, it’s one of the worst rebounding teams in the ACC versus one of the best. Duke ranks third in the ACC in combined team rebounds and gives up the fewest to opponents. Cameron Boozer and Ngongba II, Patrick lead the way there, but another four Blue Devils are picking up at least three per game. Controlling the glass will need to be a total team effort.
Szuba: Defensive assignments and matchups
If Syracuse has any hope of keeping this game close, it will have to limit the scoring of Cam Boozer and outside looks for Isaiah Evans. I don’t think Syracuse has a good option for Boozer but Donnie Freeman has the height and length to disrupt, but maybe not the strength and Tyler Betsey might have the heft but not the quickness to guard Boozer on the perimeter. Elsewhere, Nate Kingz would probably be the best option for Evans. Does Syracuse switch on screens with those two guys in man or stay home? And my god please don’t go 2-3 zone with Evans in the game.
On the other side of the floor, the Syracuse guards are going to have to get some serious offensive production to stay competitive and I suspect Duke will switch one through four with Patrick Ngongba in, maybe one through five without him. And for the love of the transfer portal, please don’t have Will Kyle transporting the ball on the perimeter with ball-poker extraordinaire Maliq Brown guarding him. Kyle will have to be big defensively against the fourth-best two-point shooting team in the country.
Max: Force the three-point shot
Here’s how KenPom ranks Duke in ACC play: most efficient offense, most efficient defense, with the highest rate of turnovers forced. In short, the Blue Devils do nearly everything extremely well… except shooting from long range, where they convert at just 32.8%. It’ll take a near-perfect effort from Syracuse to have any shot, but let’s start the gameplan where the Orange aren’t clearly overmatched. If SU can lock down Boozer with a double team down low, there’s a good chance the subsequent kick-out for three won’t be converted.
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What will you be watching for in tonight’s game?