Headed into tonight’s matchup against Louisville, Syracuse men’s basketball is trying to pull off something it hasn’t done since the very start of the season…win three games in a row.
That stat alone speaks volumes to where the squad is at this point in time. However, things are looking up for the ‘Cuse. Despite a 6-8 record in the first 14 games of the season, SU is winners of two straight. While those two victories might’ve been against bottom of the barrel ACC teams, tonight presents a new opportunity for Syracuse to gain true positive momentum.
The way that the Orange can come out winners of three straight in conference play all starts with JJ Starling. The junior has scored 47 points in Syracuse’s last two games, revitalizing an offense that has had next to nothing with him out. Along with that, having Starling back has opened up more chances for others to get involved. Guard Lucas Taylor tallied 15 against the Eagles, and guard Kyle Cuffe added 10 that guided SU to victory. If Starling can play the way he did on Saturday, other pieces along with him can carry Syracuse to the finish line.
There is something to be said about SU’s defense as well. The Orange held GT and BC to an average of 63 points respectively. Before that stretch, Syracuse was giving up an average of 78 in its previous three. That’s something we simply have not seen from SU all year long, with the difference being Starling. Tonight though, the Orange defense faces a high-power offense that it hasn’t seen in a little while.
Safe to say, the Cardinals are hot. Louisville is winners of six straight, currently ranking top five in the ACC for points and rebounds on a game-by-game basis. The Cardinals are averaging 78 points a game, the same number SU has allowed teams to score before its last two contests. Louisville is led by guards Chucky Hepburn, Reyne Smith, and Terrence Edwards Jr., who all average around 30 minutes a contest. Hepburn leads the Cardinals in points, rebounds, and assists nightly. Smith hit a career-high seven three’s finishing with 25 points in Louisville’s last game against Pittsburgh. And, Edwards Jr. is averaging 13 points a night. Given all of that, it’ll be an interesting test to see if Syracuse can handle the Cardinals big three.
The Orange need this game to show that there is still hope for this season, and that a rough start doesn’t define an entire campaign. The Cardinals will not make things easy though. If SU is to win tonight, Starling and the rest of the team need to show up with the same intensity they have in the last two matchups.
