Pilchard
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 3, 2011
- Messages
- 17,191
- Reaction score
- 6,465
Hard to get worked-up about writing up a game preview as the WF season deflates, but here's an unispired take on the Orange:
Syracuse 14-7 (5-5) #81: Cuse started the season slowly getting blitzed in the Maui Jim Classic by #6 TN (by 17) and #19 Gonzaga (by 19). At the point, Cuse fell to #127, but since then, this young team (#288 in experience) has slowly improved.
That said, Cuse has continued to find struggles on the road (like... ahem... the host team) going 1-4 as an ACC visitor (but Cuse did win at Pitt by 11 - Cuse has already swept Pitt on the season). Most recently, Cuse lost 80-75 at BC. Cuse has suffered multiple ACC road blow-outs (by 22 at UVA, 20 at Duke and 36 at UNC). KP projects Cuse to finish the ACC regular season 10-10.
Analytics (ACC games only):
Syracuse Offense ------------- WF Defense
Eff.: 98 #14 ------------------- 103 #7
Eff. FG%.: 48 #13 -------------- 50 #5
3 PT%: 31 #14 ----------------- 36 #10
2 PT% 49 #9 ------------------ 48 #4
WF Offense ------------------ Syracuse Defense
Eff. 109 #3 ------------------- 106 #9
Eff. FG% 53 #4 --------------- 53 #11
3 PT% 38 #3 ----------------- 36 #8
2 PT% 50 #6 ----------------- 52 #13
Cuse leads the ACC in percentage of points scored from the FT line and in FT Attempts per FG attempt; WF is 13th (3rd from last) in opponents FTA per FGA. So, a key for the Deacs will be not fouling as FTs are the centerpiece of the Cuse offense, and WF has had foul issues of late. It should help that WF is at home. Otherwise, as referenced above, WF is the better offensive and defensive team. Cuse is less experienced than WF and while it's close, Cuse is slightly taller.
Roster:
In Tuesday's loss to BC, Cuse started; lots of Sophomores:
6-4 2nd year Judah Mintz: 2 year starter; leading scorer (18 ppg); not super-efficient 33% from three; 45% from two; gets to the line a ton: shot 20 FTs in the win over NC State; has shot 10 or more FTs nine time this year; is #11 in the nation in fouls drawn
6-4 2nd year JJ Starling: ND transfer; 2nd leading scorer (13 ppg); less efficient than Mintz, but has scored in double figures in the last 5 games, including 22 against Miami and 26 against NCS; 33% from three
6-6 2nd year Justin Taylor: has been a non-factor lately (less than 2 ppg; last 4) his minutes are declining 20% from three in ACC play
6-7 2nd year Chris Bell: 10 ppg; 38% from three; erratic: first game against BC 20 points; 2nd game: 2 points
6-8 2nd year Maliq Brown: 9 ppg; 7 rpg (leads team); 27% from three; double double in the win over Miami (Omier did not play)
The bench: 6-6 2nd year Quadir Copeland: 2nd in rpg (5); 25% from three; gets to the line (15 FTs in the road win at Pitt); 6-9 3rd year Benny Williams: started last year; injured to start the season minutes increasing 9 ppg and 5 rpg over the last two; 25% from three (40% in 2023)
The Projection:
KP WF 78-71
Torvik WF 77-70
WF is 12-0 at home and KP gives WF the highest Home Court rating of any ACC team (4.2 points), as mentioned above Cuse has had issues as a visitor. Home Court should matter on Saturday night.
Cuse's ability to score will likely depend on how the game is called as Cuse's offense depends on getting to the line (and WF has fouled a lot in ACC games). If WF was healthy, would be conifident of a blow-out as WF is so much better at home. That said, Cuse is improving and with Cam and Damari limited can't recommend WF plus the points, but would lean that way. Also would lean over as WF averages over 80 ppg at home and Cuse will speed up its offense on the road. Cuse somehow gave up 84 points at UVA (and over 100 to UNC)... Think about that. Deacs need a win and should get one. Then, we all feel a little better.
Syracuse 14-7 (5-5) #81: Cuse started the season slowly getting blitzed in the Maui Jim Classic by #6 TN (by 17) and #19 Gonzaga (by 19). At the point, Cuse fell to #127, but since then, this young team (#288 in experience) has slowly improved.
That said, Cuse has continued to find struggles on the road (like... ahem... the host team) going 1-4 as an ACC visitor (but Cuse did win at Pitt by 11 - Cuse has already swept Pitt on the season). Most recently, Cuse lost 80-75 at BC. Cuse has suffered multiple ACC road blow-outs (by 22 at UVA, 20 at Duke and 36 at UNC). KP projects Cuse to finish the ACC regular season 10-10.
Analytics (ACC games only):
Syracuse Offense ------------- WF Defense
Eff.: 98 #14 ------------------- 103 #7
Eff. FG%.: 48 #13 -------------- 50 #5
3 PT%: 31 #14 ----------------- 36 #10
2 PT% 49 #9 ------------------ 48 #4
WF Offense ------------------ Syracuse Defense
Eff. 109 #3 ------------------- 106 #9
Eff. FG% 53 #4 --------------- 53 #11
3 PT% 38 #3 ----------------- 36 #8
2 PT% 50 #6 ----------------- 52 #13
Cuse leads the ACC in percentage of points scored from the FT line and in FT Attempts per FG attempt; WF is 13th (3rd from last) in opponents FTA per FGA. So, a key for the Deacs will be not fouling as FTs are the centerpiece of the Cuse offense, and WF has had foul issues of late. It should help that WF is at home. Otherwise, as referenced above, WF is the better offensive and defensive team. Cuse is less experienced than WF and while it's close, Cuse is slightly taller.
Roster:
In Tuesday's loss to BC, Cuse started; lots of Sophomores:
6-4 2nd year Judah Mintz: 2 year starter; leading scorer (18 ppg); not super-efficient 33% from three; 45% from two; gets to the line a ton: shot 20 FTs in the win over NC State; has shot 10 or more FTs nine time this year; is #11 in the nation in fouls drawn
6-4 2nd year JJ Starling: ND transfer; 2nd leading scorer (13 ppg); less efficient than Mintz, but has scored in double figures in the last 5 games, including 22 against Miami and 26 against NCS; 33% from three
6-6 2nd year Justin Taylor: has been a non-factor lately (less than 2 ppg; last 4) his minutes are declining 20% from three in ACC play
6-7 2nd year Chris Bell: 10 ppg; 38% from three; erratic: first game against BC 20 points; 2nd game: 2 points
6-8 2nd year Maliq Brown: 9 ppg; 7 rpg (leads team); 27% from three; double double in the win over Miami (Omier did not play)
The bench: 6-6 2nd year Quadir Copeland: 2nd in rpg (5); 25% from three; gets to the line (15 FTs in the road win at Pitt); 6-9 3rd year Benny Williams: started last year; injured to start the season minutes increasing 9 ppg and 5 rpg over the last two; 25% from three (40% in 2023)
The Projection:
KP WF 78-71
Torvik WF 77-70
WF is 12-0 at home and KP gives WF the highest Home Court rating of any ACC team (4.2 points), as mentioned above Cuse has had issues as a visitor. Home Court should matter on Saturday night.
Cuse's ability to score will likely depend on how the game is called as Cuse's offense depends on getting to the line (and WF has fouled a lot in ACC games). If WF was healthy, would be conifident of a blow-out as WF is so much better at home. That said, Cuse is improving and with Cam and Damari limited can't recommend WF plus the points, but would lean that way. Also would lean over as WF averages over 80 ppg at home and Cuse will speed up its offense on the road. Cuse somehow gave up 84 points at UVA (and over 100 to UNC)... Think about that. Deacs need a win and should get one. Then, we all feel a little better.
Last edited:
