In another quick turnaround game for Syracuse, the Orange plays its third game in five days tonight against St. John’s in the Carrier Dome. SU has a chance to win its 50th game against St. John’s in history, playing its 85th all-time game against the Red Storm.
It’s that history between these two teams that can give the Syracuse fans a hint of what tonight’s game will be like and can give the Syracuse team suggestions for their gameplan.
The Game Should Be Close
We will probably not see a repeat of Monday’s 105-57 rout of Eastern Michigan against St. John’s tonight. Instead, the game should be a different kind of thriller — a close one.
On average in games between Syracuse and St. John’s all-time, the winner has come out on top by fewer than ten points (about 9.6). Even this is more than the average win margin over the past 30 games between the Orange and the Red Storm, at 9.2 points.
Most of SU’s games this season have been either blowout wins or close losses. Tonight’s game will be a test for Syracuse to get its first win against a Power Five team this season, let alone to rise to the challenge of what looks to be a close game.
Syracuse Needs to Stop St. John’s Three-Point Field Goal Game
Since 2000, Syracuse has won against St. John’s when the Orange have kept the Red Storm from scoring 50 percent or more of their three-point shots (except in 2007 when St. John’s hit 42.9 percent of their threes, and SU lost by just 4 points).
Syracuse has lost to St. John’s in both games in the past two seasons, where the Red Storm made 56.3 percent and 50 percent of their three-point attempts, consecutively.
So far this year, we have talked about the importance of Syracuse making its three-point shots. In tonight’s game, it is important that the Orange stop the Red Storm’s.
Tonight’s game is an opportunity for Syracuse to build on the progress from its last two games and take another step forward if SU takes the advice that the past is providing.
