Syracuse (19-12, 8-10 Atlantic Coast) heads into the ACC Tournament most likely needing a couple wins to get to the NCAA Tournament. Its opponent in the first round is Wake Forest (11-19, 4-14), a team that the Orange split with during the regular season. SU lost when it played in Winston-Salem, N.C. and won the return matchup in the Carrier Dome. At the Barclays Center on Tuesday at 7 p.m., Syracuse and Wake Forest will tip off for the rubber match and a chance to keep hopes of dancing alive.

Here’s what our beat writers think will happen on Tuesday night in Brooklyn.

Matthew Gutierrez (24-7)
Third time’s the charm
Syracuse 65, Wake Forest 59

The reasons stack up one after the other: The Demon Deacons have lost to under-.500 ACC teams in Georgia Tech and Notre Dame to round out ACC play. They nearly lost to Pittsburgh. They lost to Syracuse a month ago by eight points. Kenpom.com gives Syracuse a greater-than-60-percent chance to win for the first time since what feels like December. While Syracuse has lost four-straight games at Barclays Center, and while the Orange has lost four of its last six games overall, SU squeaks by WFU to play on Wednesday and try to make its case for admission into the Big Dance.

Sam Fortier (21-10)
No reap ’til Brooklyn
Syracuse 58, Wake Forest 54

Wake Forest splashed six consecutive 3-pointers the last time they played Syracuse and it wasn’t enough. In a new venue that affects shooters and helps the Orange’s stalwart defense, give me Syracuse to squeak out its first ACC tournament victory. (It also doesn’t hurt that the only ACC road win the Demon Deacons mustered this season was against Pitt.) WFU could pose a threat with healthy big man Doral Moore inside and drivers kicking to perimeter shooters, but Syracuse has the best player on the floor in Tyus Battle and will lock down enough on defense to win. This victory ultimately won’t mean much to the Selection Committee. There’s still a ways to go.

Tomer Langer (21-10)
This feels new
Syracuse 61, Wake Forest 59

The Orange has never won a game in the ACC Tournament since joining the conference back in the 2013-2014 season. But Syracuse has never been a low enough seed to play on the first day. Now, SU matches up with a Wake Forest team that went just 4-14 in the ACC, and one that couldn’t really win away from home in the conference, either. The Demon Deacons have matched up well against Syracuse twice this season, though. Still, the Orange should have the requisite talent to pull this win out.

Published on March 5, 2018 at 11:47 am