Orange have an opportunity to knock off #2
“How many calls would you like tonight Coop?” | Photo by Lance King/Getty Images
The Syracuse Orange (10-12, 4-7) return to the Dome to welcome back Maliq Brown and the #2 Duke Blue Devils (19-2, 11-0). Tip-off is tomorrow at 7:00 pm on ESPN2 and here’s what we’re watching for:
Kevin: Stay in the Moment
Everyone expects a blowout win for Duke in this one, but can the Orange stay composed throughout the game? This team gets in trouble when they miss a couple of shots and start forcing things and against a loaded Duke team, that’s a recipe for disaster. Syracuse needs to be patient and smart with the ball and force the Blue Devils to have to work hard on both ends. Keeping this a game until the final minutes will be a good sign for the final stretch of the season.
Sam: Roy Kent
If you’ve never seen Ted Lasso (you absolutely should), one of the main plotlines in the early part of season two is Roy Kent - the former Richmond captain - becoming a TV pundit as he looks for something to fulfill him in retirement.
On his first show, he was asked for his thoughts on an unseen Chelsea performance against Manchester United. He responded:
When somebody on the desk responded by saying that United had been playing well, and that Roy was being harsh, he refuted again.
This entire thing sticks with me as Syracuse takes on Duke. Last year against North Carolina, Syracuse played with more passion and energy than it did at any other point, and for just one night, you could feel the magic of Syracuse basketball inside the Dome. I’m not asking for the Orange to pull off a win against Duke, and I’m not even asking for it to be a close game, but I’m asking for Syracuse to look Duke in the eye, and not be afraid of them.
Dom: No early holes to dig out of
The worst scenario for this year’s version of Syracuse versus Duke — the Blue Devils come out 2022 style and essentially turn a game into a blowout in the first three minutes. The obviously best-case (and miraculous) scenario is the Orange beat a team that is absolutely on fire right now. The middle (and more realistic case) I would at least like to see even if it isn’t a win — a close first half. Syracuse time and time again has had its issues getting off to strong starts. If that’s the case on Wednesday, Duke will win before any player starts dripping sweat on the court.
Mike: Forget Flagg. No, seriously.
Cooper Flagg is the most talented individual who will play on the Dome court this season. There's a near-zero chance 'Cuse can slow him down. Accept that he's going to drop 25 and 10 and make life hard for his support instead. They're the ones who need to be cold if a miracle win can take place.
Szuba: How Duke defends Starling; and how Syracuse defends Duke
Jon Scheyer likes to have his team switch one through five in man-to-man. There won’t be much opportunity to exploit mismatches in this one, but how the Blue Devils choose to defend Starling is interesting. Will they double him on ball screens or continue to switch? If it’s the latter, maybe we see more Eddie Lampkin ball screens for Starling in the five out while Red let’s him go to work. Duke’s defense has answers for that in gaps, so shooters need to be ready.
On the flipside, how will Syracuse defend Duke? Similar to Mike’s point above, I’m not sure it matters who you throw on Flagg or if it will ultimately matter in man, but I suspect Lucas Taylor will get the assignment to start and maybe some of Jyare Davis. Will Syracuse go 2-3 zone? If so that could force Isaiah Evans into minutes. But the Blue Devils also received reps against zone as UNC went to a 2-3 on Saturday and shot the ball well from three. Pick your poison.
Max: No expectations
Let’s face it: a win over Duke tomorrow is slim to none. The Blue Devils hold massive advantages in just about every statistical category. On the bright side, unlike recent years, expectations for this Orange team going into this matchup cannot be any lower. If I’m Adrian Autry, I’m telling my team we’ve got nothing to lose, so go out there, play loose, chuck up some shots and hope we get some friendly rolls.
