Syracuse vs. Miami: TNIAAM predictions & poll

While this matchup between the Syracuse Orange and Miami Hurricanes doesn’t jump off the page, there’s still much at stake for both teams. A win would move Syracuse to 11-9 in the conference, which would lock SU into the No. 5 seed for the ACC Tournament next week. A loss would put the Orange into a potential four way tie for fifth, depending on how Notre Dame, NC State and Clemson finish.

Miami has been down this year, but a win over Syracuse would move the Hurricanes to .500 on the season. There’s a chance these two teams could meet next week in the ACC Tournament, too.

Anyway, the TNIAAM team is back to make predictions. Be sure to make yours in the poll below.

Dave Stone

Syracuse 77, Miami 68

The Orange close out the season on a high note and secure the 5th seed in the ACC tourney. Since the game doesn’t really mean all that much for either team, I think it will be a slow start at both ends. Miami will struggle to score against the zone, but the Orange will find it equally difficult to score. Eventually SU will get going and Elijah Hughes will be too much for the Hurricanes to handle. Buddy Boeheim will hit several threes and the Orange will pull away late. Look for Bourama Sidibe to continue his solid play and for a handful of minutes (but absolutely no more than that) for Brycen Goodine.

Austin Lamb

Syracuse 74, Miami 61

This game won’t matter for the Orange’s NCAA Tournament chances, but a win would lock up the No. 5 seed in the ACC Tournament next week. Miami doesn’t rebound or shoot the ball well, and the Orange have played better on the road this year, so I think SU beats the Hurricanes in a game where the Orange pull away in the second half. Hopefully, it will provide Jim Boeheim’s squad with some more confidence going into next week.

Bobby Manning

Syracuse 80, Miami 68

The Hurricane’s offense has tanked into March. Dejan Vasiljevic is 3-of-17 through Miami’s last two losses as they’ve dropped six of nine. They’re the worst three-point shooting team in ACC play (28%) and are in the bottom half of rebounding teams. They turn over the ball over 12 times per game with a wing rotation that tops out at 6’5 Kameron McGusty. They haven’t stopped the three all seaosn, their bigs grab fewer 6.0 rebounds per game each. This has all the makings of an Orange blowout, especially given SU’s success against the bottom-half of the ACC and road success that continued against BC.

Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Kevin Wall

Syracuse 74, Miami 72

Here’s another opportunity for Syracuse to win the game on the interior. The Orange should be able to get the ball inside the lane and use their size to attack the Hurricanes frontcourt. The 2-3 zone is going to need to be very active on the perimeter as Chris Lykes, Dejan Vasiljevic and Isaiah Wong are all capable shooters from deep. If Syracuse can get out in transition they should be able to leave Coral Gables with another ACC road win.

James Szuba

Syracuse 79, Miami 70

For reasons unknown, I’ve actually watched a ton of Miami basketball this year. The backcourt is as deep as any in the ACC but the Hurricanes front-court has had its troubles all season. DJ Vasiljevic has given the 2-3 zone fits in the past and Chris Lykes is crafty with his quickness. Kam McGusty transferred in from Oklahoma — he does a little bit of everything for Miami and keep an eye on rising star Isaiah Wong. But, I think the Syracuse front-court could have a big game and that will be the difference. Nobody on Miami can check Elijah Hughes and this is the kind of game where Marek Dolezaj can break out of his mini slump. I think Bourama Sidibe continues his solid play on the glass too. Syracuse cruises to a three possession win.

John Cassillo

Miami 76, Syracuse 74

This is a veteran Miami squad and many of these ‘Canes players have been up against the Orange zone before. So despite the fact that they’ve taken their lumps in ACC play (just 6-12 on the season), Miami’s a reasonably good group on offense and can hang with the sort of shaky defense SU has been tossing out there more often than not. No major threat stands out on the offensive boards, though would keep an eye on Rodney Miller Jr. if you’re looking at which player may get you concerned early by forcing some whistles on the likes of Marek Dolezaj and Bourama Sidibe. The ‘Canes aren’t amazing from three (32.1%), but UNC and Boston College weren’t either. Simply put, Saturday just may not be Syracuse’s day. Call me a #disloyalidiot if you must.

Now it’s your turn...