It’s another late night at the JMA Dome as the Syracuse Orange (12-6, 3-2) look to bounce back from the weekend when the Virginia Tech Hokies (14-5, 3-3) visit. The Hokies are 2-3 in their last 5 games and this sets up as a big game for two programs hoping to get back on the bubble.Tip-off is 9:00 on the ACC Network and here’s what we’re watching for:
Kevin: Don’t give the Hokies freebies
In ACC play, Virginia Tech is shooting 28 free throws per game, making over 21. The Hokies are averaging 80 points
per game in their first six ACC games, so they are getting 25% of their points from the foul line. For Syracuse, you want to make a team that’s shooting 32% from 3 earn their points so avoiding silly fouls could be important here.
Dom: Execute in the clutch
Virginia Tech is definitely better than its current record. Keep in mind: it had a four-game stretch where it lost each of those contests, but only by a combined eight points. Tech has had some struggles defensively but is very aggressive offensively, allowing it to keep putting points on the board and putting pressure on its opponent. On the flip side, the Orange notably did anything but fare well late against Boston College, and that will ultimately be the deciding factor. That goes especially for what Syracuse’s late-game offense looks like.
Szuba: Points in the paint
This is a game where Syracuse will have to own the interior to win. The Hokies defend the three very well, but not the two, which could work in favor for an Orange team that would rather attack the basket than take outside shots. Amani Hansberry and Toby Lawal are strong, but “only” go 6-foot-8 while Christian Gurdak has seen less time of late. It’s a weak interior that Donnie Freeman and William Kyle should be able to exploit with their height and athleticism.
Max: Please take care of the ball
Giveaways have been the Achilles heel for the Orange in conference play, who have only won the turnover battle in one of their first five ACC games. KenPom ranks SU dead last in the conference with a 20.4% turnover rate, and it won’t get any easier against an above-average Virginia Tech defense. Every possession will be crucial in this one, especially when free-throw shooting is anything but free.
Augie: Get back to your identity
In the games in which this team has performed best this season, it has been the defense that has helped the Orange come out on top. The low-scoring games at the Dome are ones that the Orange seem to feel comfortable in, and they should try to bring that back against a very hit-and-miss Virginia Tech offense. If the Orange controls the pace of this game, as Stanford did down in Blacksburg a few weeks ago, they have a good chance to pick up a much-needed Quad 2 home win.
Sam: Is Nate Kingz finally here?
Nate Kingz played, unquestionably, his best game of the season against Boston College, scoring 27 points on 8-12 shooting, and going six for six from the line. This is around the time last year that Chris Bell started to shoot the ball a lot better for the Orange – but nobody really noticed because the season was already lost. Syracuse shouldn’t be relying on Kingz to save the season, but having him be more prolific from beyond the arc would be extremely helpful in the second half of the campaign.
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What will you be watching for tonight?
