The rematch is almost here. Syracuse (18-8, 9-4 Atlantic Coast) hosts No. 1 Duke (23-3, 11-2) for the first time in two years on Saturday night at the Carrier Dome. Head coach Jim Boeheim will coach for the 12th time against Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski, and the game will tip off at 6 p.m.

Here’s what our beat writers expect to happen.

Billy Heyen (19-7)
It’s hard to repeat
Duke 84, Syracuse 76

Even without Zion Williamson, Duke is a markedly better team than Syracuse. The Blue Devils will be looking to avenge an earlier defeat on their home floor, and RJ Barrett will want to redeem himself after shooting 8 for 30 in January against the Orange. In front of a record crowd, SU should keep it close for a while, but in the end, Duke will simply be too good.

Charlie DiSturco (18-8)
A perfect recipe
Syracuse 78, Duke 75

Without Zion Williamson, Duke is without its best inside scoring threat and the main reason why the Blue Devils hung with Syracuse earlier in the year at Cameron Indoor Stadium. I said earlier Duke would win by double digits. But now, there’s no Zion. Even with Tre Jones and Cam Reddish playing the full game, Syracuse’s zone should be able to slow down the Blue Devils and unseat the No. 1 team yet again. This time, it’ll come in front of a sold out Orange-heavy crowd.

Matthew Gutierrez (16-10)
Twice is nice
Syracuse 85, Duke 80

No Duke game is low scoring, with or without the future No. 1 pick in the draft. Plenty of people can score in bunches for the Blue Devils, two of whom weren’t even on the floor in the team’s first meeting. For as great as Duke is, I’m siding with Syracuse. The home court advantage plays a role and so does SU’s performance on Wednesday night.

Published on February 22, 2019 at 10:32 pm