Syracuse vs. Rutgers: TNIAAM Predictions & Poll

It’s more short rest for the Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team as they’re back in action on Tuesday night vs. the No. 21/22 Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Both teams are 3-0, and this is Syracuse’s first road game of the year. The Orange are still without Buddy Boeheim due to contact tracing concerns. SUNJ may be without a standout guard themselves, in Geo Baker.

Before this late-night game gets started at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, what does the TNIAAM think is going to happen?

Christian

Rutgers 76, Syracuse 75

The problem I’m sensing is that the Orange might need a similar shooting performance from beyond the arc like we saw against Rider. If the threes don’t fall a lot of the scoring rests on the shoulders of Quincy Guerrier and Marek Dolezaj. It’s entirely possible that the two’s solid games so far are just a product of facing lesser competition. This will be a great test to see how their inside presence has evolved. That’s not just on offense also. The Orange frontcourt needs to support Dolezaj when the ball gets inside the arc on defense. If they don’t do that, we might see Dolezaj start accumulating fouls, which would invite Rutgers to dominate the paint on both sides of the ball. It’s going to be a tight score line either way.

John

Rutgers 73, Syracuse 68

This game goes one of two ways: Either Syracuse gets hot from outside early and forces SUNJ out of their game, OR the Scarlet Knights pound the ball inside and force foul trouble for the Orange bigs, helping lead them to a win. I’d feel a lot better about our odds with Buddy Boeheim suiting up, but do think Syracuse have a chance without him. It just might be a lot to ask for to get a top-25 win on the road when we’ve yet to see this group put it all together against a quality opponent (granted, they’ve also yet to have a shot at doing so before this game).

Kevin

Rutgers 82, Syracuse 75

This is a huge test for a undermanned Syracuse squad. Rutgers is tough and athletic and they are going to make the Syracuse guards work to get the offensive sets started. This is a game where Marek Dolezaj needs to stay out of foul trouble and Syracuse needs to find ways to get open looks from deep. I’m very interested to see if Jim Boeheim continues to find minutes for Woody Newton or if he’s going to shorten his rotation. In the end I don’t think the Syracuse defense is ready to get the stops needed to get a big road win.

Szuba

Rutgers 73, Syracuse 70

Syracuse will be without two starters in Buddy Boeheim and Bourama Sidibe. While Rutgers is expected to be without Geo Baker, Ron Harper Jr. figures to have a good game against the zone and on the glass. Slight edge to RU here on its home court.

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