Gameday data
Tip: 9:00 p.m. ET
Tv: ESPN
Unfold: North Carolina -4.5
Cash line: North Carolina -196, Syracuse +164
Whole: 150
North Carolina group preview
Document: 14-6 (6-3)
Kienbaum Rank: 24 (sixteenth Assault, 59th Protection)
Latest video games: 80-69 W in opposition to NC State, 72-64 W in opposition to Boston Faculty, 80-59 W at Louisville
Main scorers:
Father Armando Pacote (17.8 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 1.1 bpg)
G.R.G. Davies (16.8 ppg, 4.8 rpm, 3.2 apg)
J Caleb Love (16.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.0 apg)
The North Carolina group has been buying and selling in convention play, successful 5 of its final six video games. The Tar Heels are nonetheless unranked after being No. 1 preseason, however they’re nonetheless a authentic risk to tour in March. Enjoying just like the ACC Participant of the Yr, famous person Armando Bacot pulled off a 23-point, 18-rebound efficiency in a large win in opposition to rival NC State on Saturday.
Offensively, this group passes Bacot – he has a utilization charge of 27.9%, fifth highest within the ACC. Bacot is without doubt one of the most proficient gamers within the nation, holding the best discipline purpose share within the ACC amongst gamers who common no less than 10 shot makes an attempt per sport. He additionally attracts lots of contacts and averages extra free throw makes an attempt than another participant within the ACC.
The primary storyline of the season within the Heels was Caleb Love’s fall on a three-point taking pictures. A yr in the past, Love had shot 36% from three-point vary and was regarded as probably the greatest shot-making guards within the nation. This yr, he is solely shot 26.8% of downtown, polarizing Tar Heels followers with choosing the shot within the course of. If he was hitting photographs from the perimeter, this group could be arduous to beat, however that hasn’t been the case in any respect currently.
Defensively, North Carolina has struggled considerably this season however has picked up that currently. They common 6.7 steals per sport of their three-game successful streak, and have moved up from tenth to seventh within the ACC in steals per sport in that span.
Syracuse group preview
Document: 13-7 (6-3)
Kienbaum Rank: 81 (Offense 56, Protection 126)
Latest video games: 80-63W at Georgia Tech, 82-78LT at Miami (FL), 78-73W in opposition to Notre Dame
Main scorers:
Father Joseph Gerrard III (17.5 ppg, 3.3 apg, 38.2% 3P)
the daddy. G Judah Mintz (14.9 ppg, 4.5 apg, 2.0 spg)
Father C Jesse Edwards (13.9 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.8 bpg)
After some shaky non-conference performances, together with losses to Bryant and Colgate at residence, Jim Boeheim’s Syracuse group has regained a surprisingly 6-3 report within the ACC thus far. It needs to be famous, although, that they’ve misplaced all three of their most difficult matches up so far (vs. Pitt, in VA, in Miami). Jim Boeheim asks lots of his younger expertise early on – 4 of the seven finest rotational gamers to have performed minutes are rookies.
Offensively, the group’s success is linked to taking pictures within the neighborhood of Joseph Gerrard. In losses this yr, he shot 28% from three-point vary, whereas he shoots 42.2% depth in wins. Girard has been taking pictures it in excessive gear currently, as evidenced by his dominant 28-point efficiency in opposition to Georgia Tech on Saturday.
Scoring for this Syracuse group is extremely ramped up by the highest three gamers (Gerrard III, Mintz, and Edwards), who rating 61.2% of the group’s factors. Mintz has the ball in his palms loads and averages 4.5 assists per sport, whereas Jesse Edwards makes use of his top and size to attain within the inside.
Defensively, the patented 2-3 District has been stable in convention play. Gerrard is a infamous defender on the high of the corkscrew – it is arduous to be confused standing 6’1″ together with his lack of top. Ivan Mea’s participant rankings give 4 out of 5 starters (Gerrard, Mintz, Chris Bell, Penny Williams) common Poor particular person defensive rankings.
Freshman Malik Brown has seen a big uptick in minutes currently, and is chipping away at a season-high 18 factors. He’s additionally a stable defender on the backside of the world. The district anchor is Edwards, main the ACC in blocks with 2.8 rejections per contest.
prediction:
Syracuse beat only one group this yr inside Kenbaum’s High 100—#46 Virginia Tech. North Carolina is taking part in high quality ball proper now, so I am keen to place the factors in right here. Caleb Love and RJ Davis will get lots of clear appears to be like from behind the bow on this one, and I see this because the place to get Love. Davis is an effective defender who can play Gerrard tightly. Whereas he was exceptionally gifted, younger Judah Mintz often confirmed up (solely three factors in opposition to Miami on 1/16). Jesse Edwards can upset Bacot together with his measurement, however he can battle to remain out of dingy hassle, which utterly adjustments the look of this sport. North Carolina is a high 25 group, and I believe their confidence and swagger are as excessive as they’ve been all season after beating NC State. The Service Dome will swing, however I assist this Carolina group, who I count on will thrive offensively in opposition to the world.
The Choose: North Carolina -4.5
Predicted closing rating: North Carolina 79, Syracuse 70
2022-23 ATS Document: 5-3
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