Game: (719) Virginia (0-0) @ (720) Syracuse (0-0)
Time: Wed. 11/06 9:00 PM EST at Carrier Dome
Spread: Virginia -3.5 ML: +145/-165 Total: 125.5 at 5Dimes
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The reigning National Champions-the Virginia Cavaliers will open their campaign on the road which hasn’t happened for over 40 years. The No. 11 Virginia Cavaliers meet the Syracuse Orange in an ACC college basketball opener on Wednesday. The defending national champion Cavaliers, who finished 35-3 overall a season ago, were 10-1 on the road. The Orange, who tied for sixth in the conference, was 13-6 at home last season.
VIRGINIA – Tony Bennett’s squad enters the season slotted at No. 5 in the season-opening KenPom rankings. This year, Virginia will have to rebuild a bit as the top three scorers from the championship team all left early for the NBA. Virginia’s scoring this season is likely to come from a pair of newcomers: top-100 freshman Casey Morsell and Tomas Woldetensae. They will likely be joined by key holdovers Mamadi Diakite, Kihei Clark, Braxton Key, and Jay Huff.
Virginia welcomes in four freshmen to the roster. Tony Bennett doesn’t typically rely on freshmen for production, but this season could require it. Redshirt freshman Francisco Caffaro is also a former four-star recruit, though the 7-footer could have trouble finding playing time behind Diakite and Huff.
SYRACUSE – Syracuse also lost plenty of talent from last season’s roster, including three of their top scorers and 4 of its 5 starters from last year. Without Tyus Battle, Oshae Brissett, Frank Howard, and Paschal Chukwu, Coach Jim Boeheim has a lot of holes to fill.
Junior Elijah Hughes will be the key for the Orange this season. The 6-foot-6 swingman scored 13.7 points while averaging nearly a block and steal per game last year. He will be joined by scrappy big man Marek Dolezaj, Bourama Sidibe, Jalen Carey, and the coach’s son, Buddy Boeheim, among others. The biggest additions by the Orange this offseason came via the international recruiting circuit, which landed them Brycen Goodine and Quincy Guerrier. Syracuse brings in the No.32-ranked recruiting class in the country. If the pieces all fit together, this could be a very dangerous Syracuse team.
Syracuse’s zone generates turnovers at a high rate and forces opposing teams into tough shots which will give them a chance to win this game. Both of these teams historically play good defense and that is about the only thing we know that is for certain about these teams until they are tested and compete. This one will likely be a close game but the Orange are going to need to have a big offensive night for any chance to win this one.