Syracuse (7-4) has lost two-straight games at home, to Old Dominion and No. 14 Buffalo. But the Orange host a sub-.500 Arkansas State (5-6) team on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Carrier Dome in SU’s second-to-last nonconference game. The Red Wolves are coming off back-to-back wins and are led by star guard Ty Cockfield II.

Here’s what our beat writers expect to happen Saturday.

Billy Heyen (9-2)
Crying wolf
Syracuse 80, Arkansas State 55

Syracuse really shouldn’t have any trouble with Arkansas State, and sure, it’ll be fun to see Cockfield II try to light the Orange zone up by himself. But what I’m most interested to see Saturday is whether SU looks to assert itself after back-to-back home losses. Do the Orange play both halves? Does the offense show life? To me, anything less than Syracuse running Arkansas State off the floor is a disappointing result for SU.

Charlie DiSturco (8-3)
Hungry like a wolf
Syracuse 81, Arkansas State 49

This is a much-needed game for Syracuse, losers of two straight. The Orange can focus on getting back to the basics against a very weak Arkansas State team. This is a team ranking 250th in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency and an even worse 279th in adjusted defensive efficiency, per Kenpom.com. Plus, it’s inside the Carrier Dome. To me, this is the game where SU needs to come out and obliterate Arkansas State, and regrasp momentum as nonconference play nears its end. Yes, the offense has struggled and SU has not looked good since the Ohio State game, but this game is the equivalent to Syracuse’s early-season bouts against Eastern Washington or Morehead State.

Matthew Gutierrez (7-4)
The Natural State
Syracuse 70, Arkansas State 60

Agree with Billy. Just not sure Syracuse steamrolls Arkansas State, because a few games this year have proven SU doesn’t have much offensive strength. Former Louisville assistant Mike Balado and his Red Wolves hung with a solid Minnesota team earlier this year, so their ability to make this a game — at least for 25 or 30 minutes — isn’t out of the question. Syracuse will nonetheless pick up the victory at home. Happy Holidays, everybody.

Published on December 21, 2018 at 11:44 am