Syracuse Orange
ACC (20-13, 10-8)
Syracuse has not had a great season; at least by their standards. However, Coach Jim Boeheim has a history of sneaking into the NCAA Tournament and doing a lot of damage once they get there. Last year the Orange had to play in the First Four, but still managed to reach the Sweet Sixteen. In 2016 the tenth seeded Syracuse squad reached the Final Four. This year they could see similar success.
Big Wins: 1/9 Clemson (61-53), 1/14 at Duke (95-91), 2/20 Louisville (69-49)
Bad Losses: 11/15 vs Connecticut (76-83), 12/15 Old Dominion (62-68), 1/12 Georgia Tech (59-73)
Coach: Jim Boeheim
Why They Can Surprise:
The Syracuse zone defense is tough to prepare for in such a short period of time and that is why the Orange keep making deep tournament runs. That is the case again this year. The opposition shoots just 39.5 percent from the floor and much of the time they are lucky to even get a shot off. The big, lanky Syracuse team forces nearly 16 turnovers and 4.8 blocked shots per game. Tyus Battle, Elijah Hughes and Oshae Brissett are the best scorers on the team and do plenty of work on the defensive end too. Frank Howard leads the team in steals, while Paschal Chukwu is the most dominating force in the paint.
Why They Can Disappoint:
When Syracuse is knocking down shots, they are difficult to beat. As is always the case with Syracuse, it comes down to their ability to create turnovers versus their inability to rebound and shoot consistently. Hughes is the team’s most prolific outside shooter, but the team as a whole connects on just 33.0 percent of their attempts from long range. Even with their shutdown defense, it will take a better team effort than that to reach the Sweet Sixteen or beyond.
Probable Starters:
Frank Howard, Senior, Guard, 8.9 ppg, 2.9 apg
Tyus Battle, Junior, Guard, 17.2 ppg, 2.5 apg, 3.3 rpg
Elijah Hughes, Junior, Forward, 13.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg
Oshae Brissett, Sophomore, Forward, 12.4 ppg, 7.5 rpg
Paschal Chukwu, Senior, Center, 4.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.8 bpg
Key Role Players:
Marek Dolezaj, Sophomore, Forward, 4.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Buddy Boeheim, Freshman, Guard, 6.9 ppg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 69.5 (261st in nation, 11th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 65.3 (38, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 42.2 (285, 12)
Field-Goal Defense: 39.5 (15, 2)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.8 (168, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 32.3 (289, 10)
Free-Throw Percentage: 68.3 (261, 15)
Rebound Margin: -2.2 (271, 12)
Assists Per Game: 12.1 (275, 13)
Turnovers Per Game: 12.3 (100, 5)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2018 | NCAA | Opening Round win over Arizona State |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over TCU |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Michigan State |
| 2018 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Duke |
| 2017 | NIT | First Round win over North Carolina-Greensboro |
| 2017 | NIT | Second Round loss to Mississippi |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Dayton |
| 2016 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Middle Tennessee State |
| 2016 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Gonzaga |
| 2016 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Virginia |
| 2016 | NCAA | National Semifinal loss to North Carolina |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Western Michigan |
| 2014 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Dayton |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Montana |
| 2013 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over California |
| 2013 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Indiana |
| 2013 | NCAA | Regional Final win over Marquette |
| 2013 | NCAA | National Semifinal loss to Michigan |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over UNC Asheville |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Kansas State |
| 2012 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Wisconsin |
| 2012 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to Ohio State |
| 2011 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Indiana State |
| 2011 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Marquette |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Vermont |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Gonzaga |
| 2010 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Butler |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Stephen F Austin |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Arizona State |
| 2009 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to Oklahoma |
| 2008 | NIT | First Round win over Robert Morris |
| 2008 | NIT | Second Round win over Maryland |
| 2008 | NIT | Quarterfinal loss to Massachusetts |
| 2007 | NIT | First Round win over South Alabama |
| 2007 | NIT | Second Round win over San Diego State |
| 2007 | NIT | Quarterfinal loss to Clemson |
*all team stats through 3/10
