Syracuse men’s hoops

The Syracuse Orange (4-3) are set to kick off their inaugural ACC match of the 24-25 season as they go against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-5) tomorrow at Noon on ESPN. The CW. With both teams lacking their top scorers, they are eager for a victory to commence conference action.

Here’s our outlook on the upcoming game:

Kevin: Syracuse 68, Notre Dame 66

Truthfully, I’m unsure how this matchup will unfold. With Markus Burton and JJ Starling both having played key roles for their teams, I expect both squads to face difficulties. Ultimately, this game hinges on which side can secure rebounds effectively and get good shots near the basket. I believe the trio of Lampkin/Freeman/Davis can make an impact in the paint, leading the Orange to a narrow victory in South Bend.

Mike: Notre Dame 62, Syracuse 55

The conditions are ripe for one of those games where scoring even a basket appears to require a miracle. We haven’t witnessed a low-scoring game yet, so why not let the ACC opener be one, especially with both teams struggling to find their rhythm in recent weeks? Notre Dame’s bench is quite limited, which leads me to believe Elijah Moore may find a favorable matchup, but will it suffice if the starting five falls short?

Dom: Syracuse 72, Notre Dame 64

The Fighting Irish are considered one of the top three-point shooting teams in the ACC in terms of both quantity and efficiency, yet this could be a game where Syracuse excels in rebounding, fast breaks, and controlling the boards at both ends. I anticipate a rather low-scoring affair for both teams, but I’m hopeful the Orange can bounce back strong after a difficult prior game.

Sam: Notre Dame 70, Syracuse 64

The ACC is currently in “break glass in case of emergency” mode. With a 2-14 record in the ACC/SEC Challenge, March is looking bleak, and both teams appeared lackluster on the road this past Tuesday. Ultimately, I will lean towards the coach I have greater faith in, which is Micah Shrewsberry, and the home court advantage for ND is a significant factor.

Szuba: Notre Dame 75, Syracuse 69

Syracuse should be capable of competing in this matchup, but considering how well Notre Dame performed against Rutgers, Houston, and Creighton without their star player and how potent their offense has been under Shrewsberry, I favor the Irish. There’s growing concern regarding Syracuse’s defense, and currently, they are struggling to contain opposing teams. For these reasons, I’m opting for Notre Dame at home as Syracuse seeks to find its identity and a solid foundation.

Finn: Notre Dame 62, Syracuse 59

The Orange did not instill much confidence in their last performance and will face even greater challenges without JJ Starling. Notre Dame may be short-handed with Burton out, but they have already faced strong opponents like Rutgers and Houston. Syracuse has had consistency issues on offense this season, and I don’t foresee this changing against a formidable Irish defense in South Bend.

Max: Syracuse 66, Notre Dame 62

I’m choosing to be optimistic and backing Syracuse, who has nothing to lose. True, their defense has been subpar, but the slower pace of this game should reduce easy fast-break opportunities, leaning in their favor. If they increase Elijah Moore’s playing time and focus on getting the ball to Lampkin and Freeman in the paint (where they have a height advantage), positive outcomes should follow.

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Now it’s time for you to weigh in