Syracuse rounds out its nonconference schedule when the No. 2 Orange (12-0) hosts Eastern Michigan on Tuesday at 3 p.m. The Eagles (7-4) are improved from last season, with three of their four losses coming to teams that have been ranked in the Top 25 this season. On Tuesday, though, they run into an SU squad playing its best basketball of the season. Here’s how beat writers David Wilson, Stephen Bailey and Trevor Hass see it playing out:

David Wilson: Syracuse 78, Eastern Michigan 55
Shut it down
The Orange has played some tough games lately. This isn’t one of them. SU’s final tune-up before conference play will be just that. C.J. Fair and Tyler Ennis have big days. The rest of the freshmen get in early. Even the walk-ons see some action. Bring on the ACC.

Stephen Bailey: Syracuse 81, Eastern Michigan 60
Ball’d Eagles
His former SU teammates voted Da’Shonte Riley the funniest guy on the team two years back, but he won’t be laughing after this one. The Orange is playing its best basketball of the year and should have no problem disposing of Eastern Michigan and old friend Rob Murphy. Look for a sharp start from Syracuse after it stumbled out of the gate against Villanova, especially if Ennis and Cooney pick up where they left off against the Wildcats.

Trevor Hass: Syracuse 79, Eastern Michigan 57
Flyin’ by the Eagles
Syracuse has beaten Eastern Michigan by identical scores of 84-48 the last two years, but this one won’t be quite as lopsided. The Eagles are on the rise and have hung with Kentucky, Massachusetts and Purdue. Having said that, it still should be a comfortable win for SU. If Ennis keeps dropping dimes and rarely turning the ball over, the Orange is tough to beat. I don’t expect Eastern Michigan to do the honors of handing SU its first loss of the season. It may be New Year’s Eve, but Syracuse doesn’t drop the ball in this one.