Syracuse at No. 13 Virginia, 7 p.m. ESPN2
Today, UVa hosts Syracuse after originally scheduled to face the Orange on Saturday. But as you all know and are maybe experiencing, a blizzard engulfed the East Coast, causing numerous sports postponements this weekend.
Syracuse went just 4-5 without its coach, Jim Boeheim, on the bench in the middle of the season because of NCAA sanctions. It has looked much better the past few games with him, culminating in a 64-62 victory at Duke on Monday. Here's more on the Orange:
Record: 13-7, 3-4
Scorers in double figures: Senior forward Michael Gbinije (17.1), senior guard Trevor Cooney (14), freshman guard Malachi Richardson (12.9) junior forward Tyler Roberson (10.2)
Leading rebounders: Roberson (9.1), freshman forward Tyler Lydon (6.6), Richardson (4.8), senior center DeJuan Coleman (4.4), Gbinije (4.3)
Assist leaders: Gbinije (4.6), Cooney (2.6)
Notable: Lydon scores 8.9 ppg, while Coleman scores 5 per game. No other Syracuse players score more than 2 ppg.
Best win: At Duke on Monday.
Worst win: In the opening game of the year at home, the Orange beat Lehigh, 57-47.
Other wins: St. Bonaventure, Elon, Charlotte, Connecticut, Texas A&M, Colgate, Cornell, Montana State, Texas Southern, Boston College, Wake Forest
Best loss: North Carolina, at home, 84-73, Jan. 9.
Worst loss: St. John's, 84-72, at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 13. The Red Storm is just 7-12.
Other losses: Wisconsin, Miami, Pittsburgh, Clemson, Georgetown
What Syracuse does well: None of Syracuse's numbers stick out greatly. In fact, offense could go in the what Syracuse does poorly section: It scores 70.7 ppg (228th in the nation), shoots 41.8 percent from the field (278th), 35.4 percent (140th) from 3-point land, and 67.3 percent (244th) from the free throw line. It is
worth noting the Orange do have Boeheim back. It is 13-7 this year, but 9-2 with him. He makes a difference. The defensive numbers are pretty good. The Orange gives up 64.3 ppg (33rd) and limits opponents to 39.8 percent shooting (47th). In its past three games, Syracuse has given up 40, 55, and 62 points.
What Syracuse does poorly: In addition to poor shooting, Syracuse is slightly in the negative on rebounding margin, though Roberson is an elite rebounder who grabbed 20 boards against Duke. Luckily, after a poor performance on the glass against Georgia Tech, Virginia has cleaned up that part of its game more recently.
For the most part, Virginia need not look at these stats. Syracuse is looking like a different team with Boeheim back on the sideline and needs to be taken seriously. Wins over Boston College and Wake Forest are nothing to get excited about, but the Wake win was by 28 points and came on the road. Then, there is the Duke win. At Cameron. Hopefully, that got Virginia's attention and put it on upset alert. It will probably be a low-scoring grinding game. Virginia might be starting to find its offense, but I think the same can be said for Syracuse and its defense.
How does snow play into the game? Well, schedules are a bit off kilter, but normally, these types of situations favor the home team, you would think. Syracuse has been staying at home and practicing all week, probably as a way to avoid getting stuck at an airport or hotel. The upside is not getting stuck at an airport and hotel, and extra practice time. The downside is a late arrival in Charlottesville probably at mid-day today. Hopefully, the snow hasn't disrupted Virginia's practice schedule too much and the guys have been getting warm and cozy preparing at JPJ. The crowd will no doubt be smaller than usual, but I'm sure there will be a little cabin fever pent up inside people and they can let it all out at the game. So a small crowd will not mean a quiet crowd. It would be cool if UVa officials let everyone sit in the lower bowl. My roommate Jeremy and I trekked to the Wake Forest game our senior year in the snow and that is what happened. There was probably just 6,000 people or so, but after the first timeout, the PA announcer said everyone was allowed into the lower sections of the area. It created a close-knit, loud atmosphere and it made it seem like there were more fans there than there actually was. With the team better now and the seats more valuable, who knows if that will happen. Heck, maybe I'll be surprised by the overall attendance.
I can envision a slow start for the 'Hoos, and I can't expect a blowout like two years ago to win the ACC regular-season title, but I think the Cavaliers will be ready to go and get some energy out.
Gut feeling: Virginia wins by 1-5 points.
Today, UVa hosts Syracuse after originally scheduled to face the Orange on Saturday. But as you all know and are maybe experiencing, a blizzard engulfed the East Coast, causing numerous sports postponements this weekend.
Syracuse went just 4-5 without its coach, Jim Boeheim, on the bench in the middle of the season because of NCAA sanctions. It has looked much better the past few games with him, culminating in a 64-62 victory at Duke on Monday. Here's more on the Orange:
Record: 13-7, 3-4
Scorers in double figures: Senior forward Michael Gbinije (17.1), senior guard Trevor Cooney (14), freshman guard Malachi Richardson (12.9) junior forward Tyler Roberson (10.2)
Leading rebounders: Roberson (9.1), freshman forward Tyler Lydon (6.6), Richardson (4.8), senior center DeJuan Coleman (4.4), Gbinije (4.3)
Assist leaders: Gbinije (4.6), Cooney (2.6)
Notable: Lydon scores 8.9 ppg, while Coleman scores 5 per game. No other Syracuse players score more than 2 ppg.
Best win: At Duke on Monday.
Worst win: In the opening game of the year at home, the Orange beat Lehigh, 57-47.
Other wins: St. Bonaventure, Elon, Charlotte, Connecticut, Texas A&M, Colgate, Cornell, Montana State, Texas Southern, Boston College, Wake Forest
Best loss: North Carolina, at home, 84-73, Jan. 9.
Worst loss: St. John's, 84-72, at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 13. The Red Storm is just 7-12.
Other losses: Wisconsin, Miami, Pittsburgh, Clemson, Georgetown
What Syracuse does well: None of Syracuse's numbers stick out greatly. In fact, offense could go in the what Syracuse does poorly section: It scores 70.7 ppg (228th in the nation), shoots 41.8 percent from the field (278th), 35.4 percent (140th) from 3-point land, and 67.3 percent (244th) from the free throw line. It is
What Syracuse does poorly: In addition to poor shooting, Syracuse is slightly in the negative on rebounding margin, though Roberson is an elite rebounder who grabbed 20 boards against Duke. Luckily, after a poor performance on the glass against Georgia Tech, Virginia has cleaned up that part of its game more recently.
For the most part, Virginia need not look at these stats. Syracuse is looking like a different team with Boeheim back on the sideline and needs to be taken seriously. Wins over Boston College and Wake Forest are nothing to get excited about, but the Wake win was by 28 points and came on the road. Then, there is the Duke win. At Cameron. Hopefully, that got Virginia's attention and put it on upset alert. It will probably be a low-scoring grinding game. Virginia might be starting to find its offense, but I think the same can be said for Syracuse and its defense.
How does snow play into the game? Well, schedules are a bit off kilter, but normally, these types of situations favor the home team, you would think. Syracuse has been staying at home and practicing all week, probably as a way to avoid getting stuck at an airport or hotel. The upside is not getting stuck at an airport and hotel, and extra practice time. The downside is a late arrival in Charlottesville probably at mid-day today. Hopefully, the snow hasn't disrupted Virginia's practice schedule too much and the guys have been getting warm and cozy preparing at JPJ. The crowd will no doubt be smaller than usual, but I'm sure there will be a little cabin fever pent up inside people and they can let it all out at the game. So a small crowd will not mean a quiet crowd. It would be cool if UVa officials let everyone sit in the lower bowl. My roommate Jeremy and I trekked to the Wake Forest game our senior year in the snow and that is what happened. There was probably just 6,000 people or so, but after the first timeout, the PA announcer said everyone was allowed into the lower sections of the area. It created a close-knit, loud atmosphere and it made it seem like there were more fans there than there actually was. With the team better now and the seats more valuable, who knows if that will happen. Heck, maybe I'll be surprised by the overall attendance.
I can envision a slow start for the 'Hoos, and I can't expect a blowout like two years ago to win the ACC regular-season title, but I think the Cavaliers will be ready to go and get some energy out.
Gut feeling: Virginia wins by 1-5 points.
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