#OrangeEagle hardwood action begins
Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Syracuse Orange (7-8, 1-3) are back on the road and hoping to get a winning streak going when they face the Boston College Eagles (9-6, 1-3). The game tips off at 3:00 ET on The CW and here’s what we’re watching for in this one:
Sam: BC’s post-ups?
Boston College is in the 95th percentile in post-up frequency on the offensive side of the ball, in large part due to St. Bonaventure transfer Chad Venning, who ranks third in the ACC in post-up possessions this season, with 102. Venning has excellent footwork for somebody his size because of his background as an amateur boxer that you’ll almost undoubtedly hear mentioned on the broadcast. Syracuse has faced the second-fewest share of post-ups of any ACC team. SU’s paint defense isn’t good, but it hasn’t been the back-to-basket game that has killed the Orange. Will they be able to stop BC’s paint game?
Finn: Managing the Glass
It seems likely that SU will be without its best rebounder, Donnie Freeman, who is out with an injury. The Orange rank as one of the best rebounding teams in the ACC, and BC is not bad themselves. The Eagles rely heavily on second-chance points and boards because they are the least efficient shooters in the conference. If the Orange can keep BC off the offensive glass despite Freeman’s absence, it would give them a much better chance to win.
Max: Force the Eagles off the three-point line
Absurd stat incoming: Boston College shoots nearly as good from three-point range (38.2%) in conference play than inside the arc (42%). That percentage from two-point land is the worst in the ACC, so forcing the Eagles off the perimeter should be a primary focus for the Orange defense. This might seem like a wonky strategy, but it’s fitting for how the year has gone.
Kevin: Attack the paint
BC comes into this game allowing ACC opponents to shoot 55% on two-point attempts. We know that Syracuse is not a good shooting team so they can’t settle for contested jumpers here. They need to try and push the pace and attack the interior. The Eagles lack frontcourt depth after Venning and Elijah Strong so it would be smart to focus on getting the ball inside early and often.
Dom: Sound defense from start to finish
It’s a simple strategy, but one that will absolutely get the job done for the Orange. Despite turnover troubles and some shooting inefficiency against Georgia Tech, Syracuse held the Yellow Jackets to under 37% from the floor. The Orange’s own offense wasn’t efficient, but BC’s field goal percentage is currently the lowest in the ACC. Even if the scoring isn’t pretty, consistency on defense can still propel Syracuse to the finish line.
Szuba: Orange turnovers
Can Syracuse take care of the basketball in this winner take nothing kind of game? Syracuse has had 93 turnovers in its last five games, far too many to be seriously competing in conference games. Those turnovers are coming from all positions on the floor, but with JJ Starling now moving to the starting point guard spot, can Syracuse cut down on those mishaps? Boston College doesn’t turn teams over and ranks toward the bottom in the country in steals.
Mike: Who’s the go to?
This question applies to both teams. BC has just as much scoring inconsistency as SU, with the Brooklyn native Venning being the recent hot hand. On the Orange side, Starling is now averaging 19.0 PPG but is it sustainable especially without Freeman as an outlet? I get the feeling opponents will start to clamp down on him so can someone else create some space and keep the offense flowing?
