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Syracuse’s first three games have been eventful to say the least. The Orange are 3-0, defeating Le Moyne, Colgate and Youngstown State. Those victories came by a combined 15 points, though, with SU needing double overtime to prevail over YSU.

J.J. Starling willed the Orange to victory with a career-high 38 points, with 31 coming after halftime. Eddie Lampkin Jr. also chipped in 20 points, 12 rebounds and a career-high seven assists. Despite leading by eight in the first overtime, YSU stormed back to force a second OT, but the Orange outscored the Penguins 18-9 across the final five minutes.

Syracuse now travels to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, for the Legends Classic, where it takes on Texas. The Longhorns have won three straight games after losing their season-opener to Ohio State.

Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse (3-0, Atlantic Coast Conference) will fare against Texas (3-1, Southeastern Conference):

Zak Wolf (3-0)
Horns up
Syracuse 72, Texas 85

Last week I said if Syracuse didn’t beat Youngstown State handily, the alarm bells would reach deafening levels. It’s safe to say that’s the case. The Orange haven’t shown they can handily beat below average opponents, especially one that’s made the past four NCAA Tournaments. I was tempted to say Texas would blow Syracuse out of the water, but this could be the classic case of SU playing up to its competition.

We’ll find out Thursday. But for now, I see SU losing this one pretty easily. The Longhorns boast an efficient offense, as they shoot 59.5% from the field, the 22nd-best mark in the country, per KenPom. Texas’ opponents also shoot just 36.6% from 2-point range. Considering 62.1% of Syracuse’s points come from the paint, that doesn’t bode well for the Orange.

SU is going to need someone to step up from 3-point range. As a team, the Orange are shooting 25.4% from deep, while no player that has at least five attempts is shooting more than 32%. I don’t see this being the game Syracuse heats up from the outside. For that reason, I have the Orange dropping their first game of the season in Brooklyn.

Aiden Stepansky (3-0)
Losers Classic
Syracuse 79, Texas 90

The good news is the Orange are undefeated to start the season. The bad news is those might have been the most unconvincing wins in recent memory. SU’s last scare came at the hands of Youngstown State. Though Syracuse won by eight points, the Penguins were a few lucky bounces away from handing the Orange possibly their worst loss in program history.

Entering the Legends Classic, this Syracuse team will exit closer to being losers than legends. SU has already dropped tremendously in KenPom’s rankings, falling from 68 to open the season to 106 entering Thursday’s game. Its last three opponents all ranked far lower than 180. Texas, however, is inside the top 25.

This one could get ugly quick. But for some odd reason, I see SU sticking around through the first half. Head coach Adrian Autry has made it abundantly clear the squad’s biggest flaw is its defense. Against the Longhorns, Syracuse’s defense will rear its ugly head.

The Orange will have absolutely zero answer for the Longhorns’ potent offense and allow them to pick them apart throughout the evening.

Justin Girshon (3-0)
Brooklyn blowout
Syracuse 70, Texas 87

Syracuse might be 3-0, but it sure doesn’t feel like it. The Orange were supposed to dominate their three-game homestand to open the season before embarking for the Empire Classic. Instead, they travel to the Barclays Center with more questions than answers.

SU’s biggest concern thus far is its defense, specifically in the backcourt. Unfortunately for Syracuse, it’ll have its hands full with Texas phenom freshman Tre Johnson. Four games into his college career, 247Sports’ No. 6 class of 2024 recruit is averaging 23.5 points per game while shooting 58.9% from the field and 58.6 from 3 — on 7.3 attempts, nonetheless.

While Johnson is the Longhorns’ main threat, he’s supported entirely by upperclassmen, headlined by forwards Arthur Kaluma and Kadin Shedrick. Facing an SU team that lacks fluidity and chemistry, I think Texas should have no problems and cruise to a double-digit victory.

The trip to Brooklyn will be a wake-up call for the Orange. If SU’s defensive and 3-point struggles persist, I think it could prompt Autry to make rotational changes going forward.

Published on November 21, 2024 at 12:44 am