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University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: Robert Crawford
Know Your Opponent: Syracuse
February 26, 2019 | Men's Basketball
By Bobby Hundley
Syracuse (Cuse.com)
Location: Syracuse, N.Y.
Rankings: No. 38 KenPom, NR AP
Record: 18-9, 9-5 ACC
NET/SOS: No. 44 NET, No. 20 SOS
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): UNC leads 11-4 (UNC 78, Syracuse 59, March 7, 2018, Barclays Center)
After a split of the season series with Duke, Syracuse sits at 9-5 in the ACC with three road games and a visit from KenPom No. 1 Virginia left on the schedule. That puts the Orange firmly in the chasing pack of five teams hoping to grab the key No. 4 seed (and double-bye) in Charlotte as well as comfortably in the NCAA tournament field entering Tuesday night's trip to Chapel Hill.
Junior Tyus Battle continues to lead what is essentially a 7-man Syracuse lineup. The dynamic combo guard scores better than 17 points per outing - including a season-high 32 in the win at Duke - despite making just 30 percent of his 3s. What he lacks in accuracy he makes up for in ball security, free throw rate and durability. After playing in 98.9 percent of the Orange's ACC minutes last season, Battle is logging 92.9 percent this year.
ECU transfer Elijah Hughes is Syracuse's volume outside shooter at more than seven long-range attempts per game. Buddy Boeheim has been his dad's best option from deep in league play (43 percent on 58 attempts), a fact that has led to a steady uptick in minutes for the first-year guard. In ACC wins, the younger Boeheim is making a blistering 56.7 percent of his 3s.
But as is often the case, Cuse is winning with defense. Armed with the tallest team in the country according to KenPom's average height rating, the Orange make a living forcing contested 2s and turning opponents over. Led by 7-2 senior Paschal Chukwu, Syracuse is No. 1 nationally in block percentage. No. 3 scorer Oshae Brissett also chips in a block per game against ACC foes, who turn it over a league-high 22.5 percent of the time.
Senior Frank Howard has had an up-and-down career at the point, but he's a solid perimeter defender and distributor who leads the Orange in both steals and assist rate. And with Bourama Sidibe out the last two games, 6-10 sophomore Marek Dolezaj joins Buddy Boeheim as the lone bench options.
Starting Tuesday night, Syracuse has three more regular-season chances at Quadrant 1 wins, including a massive Senior Night home game against Virginia on March 4. But by taking care of business against Wake Forest on Saturday, the Orange should feel good about its chances of making the tournament in an odd-numbered year for the first time since the Final Four run in 2013.
Syracuse (Cuse.com)
Location: Syracuse, N.Y.
Rankings: No. 38 KenPom, NR AP
Record: 18-9, 9-5 ACC
NET/SOS: No. 44 NET, No. 20 SOS
Carolina Series History (Last Meeting): UNC leads 11-4 (UNC 78, Syracuse 59, March 7, 2018, Barclays Center)
After a split of the season series with Duke, Syracuse sits at 9-5 in the ACC with three road games and a visit from KenPom No. 1 Virginia left on the schedule. That puts the Orange firmly in the chasing pack of five teams hoping to grab the key No. 4 seed (and double-bye) in Charlotte as well as comfortably in the NCAA tournament field entering Tuesday night's trip to Chapel Hill.
Junior Tyus Battle continues to lead what is essentially a 7-man Syracuse lineup. The dynamic combo guard scores better than 17 points per outing - including a season-high 32 in the win at Duke - despite making just 30 percent of his 3s. What he lacks in accuracy he makes up for in ball security, free throw rate and durability. After playing in 98.9 percent of the Orange's ACC minutes last season, Battle is logging 92.9 percent this year.
ECU transfer Elijah Hughes is Syracuse's volume outside shooter at more than seven long-range attempts per game. Buddy Boeheim has been his dad's best option from deep in league play (43 percent on 58 attempts), a fact that has led to a steady uptick in minutes for the first-year guard. In ACC wins, the younger Boeheim is making a blistering 56.7 percent of his 3s.
But as is often the case, Cuse is winning with defense. Armed with the tallest team in the country according to KenPom's average height rating, the Orange make a living forcing contested 2s and turning opponents over. Led by 7-2 senior Paschal Chukwu, Syracuse is No. 1 nationally in block percentage. No. 3 scorer Oshae Brissett also chips in a block per game against ACC foes, who turn it over a league-high 22.5 percent of the time.
Senior Frank Howard has had an up-and-down career at the point, but he's a solid perimeter defender and distributor who leads the Orange in both steals and assist rate. And with Bourama Sidibe out the last two games, 6-10 sophomore Marek Dolezaj joins Buddy Boeheim as the lone bench options.
Starting Tuesday night, Syracuse has three more regular-season chances at Quadrant 1 wins, including a massive Senior Night home game against Virginia on March 4. But by taking care of business against Wake Forest on Saturday, the Orange should feel good about its chances of making the tournament in an odd-numbered year for the first time since the Final Four run in 2013.
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