Beat writers agree on Syracuse win against Georgia Tech for 11th home win
Courtesy of the ACC
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After defeating Boston College, Syracuse looks to start another winning streak when it hosts Georgia Tech on Monday night in the Carrier Dome. The Orange cruised past the Eagles 76-56, and Buddy Boeheim and Cole Swider each scored 18 points and limited BC to 5-for-28 shooting on 3-pointers.
Georgia Tech has just two wins in its last seven games, and it is currently the fourth-worst team in the conference. The Yellow Jackets most recently defeated Pittsburgh on Saturday behind Michael Devoe’s 22 points.
Here’s what The Daily Orange’s beat writers think will happen when Syracuse and Georgia Tech meet for the first and only time this season, after its game was originally scheduled for late December but postponed due to COVID-19 protocols within the Yellow Jackets’ program.
Andrew Crane (18-8)
Late-season buzz
Syracuse 77, Georgia Tech 67
Just like the Boston College game on Saturday, this is a game that the Orange should win — and if they don’t, it’ll join the Pitt loss as one of the season’s most deflating losses. Syracuse has holes on offense without Jesse Edwards and a true pick-and-roll threat, but it still has enough balance between Buddy, Swider and Joe Girard III to score in bunches against the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech has the 62nd-best defensive 3-point percentage in the country, according to KenPom, so if for some reason the deep shots don’t work, those three players should be able to create their own mid-range shots off the dribble. Devoe could have a lot of success against the zone, but outside of that, there shouldn’t be many issues preventing the Orange from securing a sixth win in their last seven games.
Roshan Fernandez (16-10)
On a roll
Syracuse 82, Georgia Tech 68
The Yellow Jackets have a solid defense, ranking in the KenPom top 100, but I don’t think their offense will be able to keep up with Syracuse’s. They rank 246th in the nation and are a mediocre 3-point and 2-point shooting team. While SU has four of five starters averaging double-digit points, Georgia Tech has just two. Syracuse has won five of its last six contests and seems to be in an offensive groove right now. It proved that it can play strong defense against a lower-tier ACC opponent like Boston College, and I think the Orange are more than capable of replicating that effort against Georgia Tech. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that SU is playing at home, where it hasn’t lost in four straight contests. Look for that streak to be extended to five with another comfortable, confident Syracuse win.
Gaurav Shetty (15-11)
Home stretch
Syracuse 84, Georgia Tech 70
After topping Boston College at home, Syracuse has now won four in a row at the Dome, which has coincided with its current 5-1 record in the past six games. Georgia Tech should be the fifth straight home win. The Yellow Jackets are the final gimme left on the Orange’s schedule before embarking on a daunting run to end the season. Georgia Tech had a great run last year and was unlucky to fall to Loyola Chicago in the NCAA Tournament, but after a lot of roster turnover, this team isn’t the same. GT’s offense ranks 246th on KenPom, which is about all you need to know. Syracuse tripped up last against a great Virginia Tech offense, so it will take a lot more than the 246th ranked Yellow Jackets to top the Orange.
Published on February 20, 2022 at 8:36 pm