Syracuse basketball returns to the hardwood for its second game of the season. The ‘Cuse hosts Colgate tonight in the Dome. The private school, located an hour southeast in Hamilton, NY, has given SU a run for its money over the past three seasons.
The Orange fell to the Raiders in back-to-back years in 2021 and 2022. Finally, Syracuse got over the hump last season, erasing a 24-point deficit thanks to forward Chris Bell.
The junior posted a previous career-high 25 points and six three-pointers in that game. It was truly a breakout game for Bell that established him as one of the best shooters in the ACC last season.
Bell mostly picked up where he left off in SU’s season-opener. He posted 20 points and went 2-6 from downtown along with a 58% shooting clip from the floor. Bell has gained significant confidence since last season, and the Orange need him to continue stepping up game after game this year.
Good news for Bell and Syracuse: the Raiders recently allowed 13 three-pointers in a 17-point loss to Drexel. Bell has already demonstrated his ability against Colgate, and all signs point to another solid night for him against the maroon and white.
However, it can’t just be Bell. Guard JJ Starling was a no-show in the first half against Le Moyne. The sophomore scored just four points in the first 20 minutes of the game, and he only finished with one three-pointer on five attempts.
“JJ’s someone that we know has a big part of what we do,” head coach Adrian Autry said after the win over Le Moyne last Monday. “We have to get him to play well.”
Syracuse and Colgate tip-off at 7:00 P.M. in the JMA Wireless Dome. The two squads face each other for the 176th time.
