GameThread: Syracuse basketball vs. Virtus Roma

And just like that, Syracuse basketball’s romp through Italy wraps up today as the team faces off against Virtus Roma in, you guessed it, Rome. The game starts at 1 pm today and concludes the Orange’s four-game tour of Italy.

Syracuse basketball has eviscerated their last two opponents, scoring over 100 points in each game and winning by an average of 54 points. Most recently, they drubbed Siena Summer Select 115-56. Six players scored in double figures in the game and the pace was fast and furious.

So what do we expect to see today? More of the same most likely. With the 24 second shot clock in place, Syracuse basketball has unleashed the fast break in Italy, converting steals and rebounds into easy transition points. Look for more of this today as Jalen Carey, Brycen Goodine, Joe Girard, and Howard Washington all look to push the pace.

I think we’ll also see another large number of three-pointers attempted by the ‘Cuse. So far in Italy, Syracuse basketball has hoisted up 118 three-point shots, connecting on 44 of them. Nine different players on the team have drained a three.

Lastly, what I’m hoping to see is the continued strong play of Bourama Sidibe. Sidibe has looked like a whole new player in Italy. No longer hampered by sore knees, he has looked explosive (at times) and has played solidly at both ends of the floor. Against Siena Summer Select, he had 10 points, grabbed six rebounds, and blocked five shots in less than 19 minutes!

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Hopefully he plays well again today and can build off this early confidence into the regular season. If he flashes any of the potential he’s capable of (remember Pittsburgh in 2018?) it puts a whole new ceiling on what this team can achieve.

Regardless, this has been an enjoyable few games to watch for Syracuse basketball. In case you missed any of them, here’s a few articles to get you caught up:

• Six takeaways from Syracuse Basketball’s win over Siena Summer Select
• Syracuse moves to 3-0 in Italy with a 115-56 win
• Six takeaways from SU’s win over Oxygen Bassano
• Syracuse defeats All Stars Varese 69-59

Feel free to drop a comment during or after today’s game and let us know what you’re most excited about with this year’s Syracuse basketball team. We’ll have a recap post and some takeaways for you shortly after the game concludes.