Syracuse basketball will host the Fighting Irish in the JMA Wireless Dome for an ACC clash. Keep reading for a full Syracuse vs Notre Dame prediction.
Syracuse basketball leads the all-time series over Notre Dame 34-24. The Orange have also won the last three meetings with the Fighting Irish in the JMA Wireless Dome, including last season’s Jim Boeheim Day. These teams met earlier this season in Purcell Pavilion, where the Irish defeated the Orange 69-64, in the opening game of ACC play.
However, the last time these two sides met, they were without their leading scorers. Adding Markus Burton and JJ Starling back into their respective rotation creates a matchup of top-tier guards in the ACC.
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Last time out, Notre Dame snapped their four-game losing streak when they beat Boston College 78-60. In the win, four different Irish players scored in double figures, including Tae Davis and Markus Burton who had 26 and 20 points respectively.
One thing to note about the Fighting Irish is their field goal percentage. As a team they shoot, 46.9% from the field which is the fifth-best in the conference. Also, they are fourth in the conference in three-point shooting at 36.8%. The last time they faced off against the Orange they played almost exactly to their averages, shooting 45% from the field and knocking down eight three-pointers.
Notre Dame also plays at one of the slower tempos in college basketball. According to Kenpom, the Fighting Irish are ranked 316th in adjusted tempo. However, even with the slower pace, the Irish have struggled on the defensive end. They are ranked outside of the top 150 in the country in defensive efficiency and give up just over 70 points per game.
If Notre Dame can control the tempo and force Syracuse into tough shots, a sweep of the Orange is entirely possible.
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Last time out, the Orange saw their two-game win streak get snapped, as they got dominated by Louisville in the JMA Dome, 85-61. The two-game win streak included a win at home over Georgia Tech and on the road against Boston College. In the loss to the Cardinals, the Orange were led by Chris Bell who has taken a new role off the bench, as he recorded 18 points while knocking down four three-pointers.
Eddie Lampkin Jr. has recently become one of the stars of Syracuse basketball. The Colorado transfer had 11 points and 10 rebounds in Tuesday’s loss, which gives Lampkin his third consecutive double-double. While JJ Starling has been very successful this season, the Junior has a chance to prove that his four-point performance on Tuesday was an outlier. This season, Starling is averaging 18.2 points per game, which is a team-best. However, the Orange have been without their star freshman Donnie Freeman for three straight games.
If the Orange can rely on their stars in this conference matchup, they can find their third win in ACC play.
Syracuse vs Notre Dame Prediction: Fighting Irish by 2
The contest will be another battle to control the pace for the Orange. If Notre Dame forces the game into a slower pace, the Orange will have an opportunity to keep it close, but the solid shooting for the Irish will push them on top in a close game.