Beat writers expect close game between Syracuse, Boston College
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Oshae Brissett, pictured last season against BC, scored 13 points when the squads played in the Carrier Dome last season.
Each of the last two seasons, Boston College (11-7, 2-4 Atlantic Coast) has beaten Syracuse (14-6, 5-2) in Conte Forum. Wednesday, the Orange play there again coming off a loss to Virginia Tech last Saturday. BC has won two-straight, including a victory over a ranked Florida State team.
Here’s what our beat writers expect to happen on Wednesday.
Billy Heyen (16-4)
The water’s clean
Syracuse 73, Boston College 70
BC does a lot of the things that could cause Syracuse issues: Shoot the 3 well, play pressure defense and rely on a star guard in Ky Bowman. That should keep the Eagles around all night at Conte Forum. But Syracuse should have some answers for those things after the issues they caused at VT, and Elijah Hughes should bounce back from a miserable shooting night. After losing their first true road game last Saturday, the Orange should avoid a second-straight on Wednesday.
Charlie DiSturco (15-5)
Foles’ Eagles > Bowman’s Eagles
Syracuse 65, Boston College 62
After a blowout loss at Virginia Tech, it’s even more important that Syracuse bounces back on the road at Boston College. The Eagles are a sneaky team. Though they don’t shoot the ball well — 271st in the country in 3-point percentage — Ky Bowman is always a threat to break out. He finished 6 for 8 from 3 with 37 points in an upset win over Florida State a little over a week ago, and scored 20-plus points against the Orange in both games last season. Games like these are must-win for SU, and while BC will keep the game close, Syracuse won’t drop two-straight road games.
Matthew Gutierrez (13-7)
First responder
Syracuse 60, Boston College 59
The Orange have generally improved after losses — look no further than their follow-up to Georgia Tech with the Duke win. But this could go either way. BC has dominated SU at Conte Forum in recent years, and a hot shooting display by the Eagles could do SU in. But with three days between games, Syracuse should come out a little refreshed — and motivated to bounce back for a road win.
Published on January 29, 2019 at 7:15 pm
