No. 15 Syracuse and No. 13 Oregon both picked up their first losses of the season on Thursday even while both being favored. That sets up a ranked matchup at 4:30 p.m. at Madison Square Garden on Friday. Each team will be looking to get a ranked win after losing to unranked teams less than 24 hours earlier.

Here’s what our beat writers think will happen.

Charlie DiSturco (2-1)
There’s no place like Dome
Oregon 70, Syracuse 64

Syracuse proved last night that its offense is still lagging behind without senior point guard Frank Howard. A loss to Connecticut started this nightmare and a loss to Oregon will end it. It seems like everyone is waiting for Syracuse to take the next step after a weak win against Morehead State. But that won’t come today.

Matthew Gutierrez (2-1)
Consolation prize
Syracuse 64, Oregon 62

What a bizarre Thursday night at MSG, from Syracuse’s late arrival to Buddy’s Jersey to the Orange’s lack of offensive movement. Might as well include Oregon’s embarrassing loss to Iowa in the mix. Both Syracuse and Oregon are ranked teams with loads of talent coming off upset losses because they got outshot and played individually on offense, not as a team. Doesn’t hurt that it came in front of about 60 NBA scouts last night. With Friday a toss up, the team that forged ahead in the final minutes will pick up the win and avoid back-to-back losses.

Billy Heyen (2-1)
Duck face
Oregon 74, Syracuse 69

Oregon features one of the most unique players Syracuse will face all season: 7-foot-2 Bol Bol. He can block shots, handle the ball, shoot 3s and dunk with the best of them. There’s not much stopping him, especially on a quick turnaround with little preparation, so the Orange will have to hope he’s off his game. Beyond Bol, the difference in the game will be Ehab Amin, a 6-foot-4 grad transfer guard. He’ll provide SU fans a reminder of Thursday’s game against UConn with long-armed tight defending and 3-point shooting from anywhere on the floor. In the end, Bol will make a few too many freakish plays, and Amin a few too many shots, for the Orange’s stagnant offense to overcome.

Published on November 16, 2018 at 11:53 am