College Basketball
NCAA Hoops Preview: #14 Buffalo vs. Syracuse
- Matchup: Buffalo Bulls (10-0, 0-0) vs. Syracuse Orange (7-3, 0-0)
- Date: Dec. 18, 2018
- Time: 8 p.m. (est)
- Network: ESPN2
- Location: Syracuse, New York, USA
- Venue: Carrier Dome
- Seating Capacity: 34K
A huge inter-state game will test both of these schools early, as the overlooked Buffalo Bulls travel to the struggling Syracuse Orange. Despite the strong start for Buffalo this season, this game may become a huge factor in determining at-large bids for both teams if neither can win their conference tournament. The Orange are coming off a home loss to Old Dominion, as Buffalo has yet to experience that fate this season.
Battle Ready
Syracuse will look to once again lean upon the uncanny talent of Tyus Battle. Battle has been the one consistent bright spot for Syracuse this season, leading the Orange in scoring at an average of 18.5 points per game. He is also coming off of back-to-back 20-plus point performances, in which he reached the free throw line a ridiculous 26 times. Syracuse will need more help to defeat Buffalo though, as the Bulls have talent and experience across the board.
Look for Oshae Brissett to have a big game if Syracuse plans on winning. Brissett’s impact doesn’t have to be on the stat sheet, but limiting rebounds and easy points inside the paint will be Brissett’s main function in this one. The Bulls top two scorers are also their rebound leaders, so Brissett will have to limit Buffalo’s offensive rebounds and alleviate some of the workload for Battle.
Game Day in the Dome ?? pic.twitter.com/o314imBpVm
— Syracuse Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) December 18, 2018
Buffalo Soldiers
The two impact players for Buffalo includes C.J. Massinburg and Nick Perkins. Massinburg actually leads the team in scoring with 17.1 points per game. He is also second in team rebounds with 7.1 per game. Massinburg has been on a tear lately, recording a triple-double three games ago while also seeing zero turnovers in their last game against Southern Illinois.
Besides Massinburg, Perkins will be the other challenge for both Brissett and this Syracuse team. Perkins comes into the game averaging close to 14 points per game and a team-leading 8.2 rebounds per game. Perhaps the biggest factor in Perkins’ game, however, is on the defensive side. Perkins averages a whopping 1.5 blocks per game this season and maybe a large factor if Syracuse can’t get their jump shots to fall.
Game day shootaround about to get underway here at the Carrier Dome#UBhornsUP pic.twitter.com/ldorwUitqD
— UB Men's Basketball (@UBmenshoops) December 18, 2018
Get in the Zone
The infamous Syracuse zone ran on defense can go either way tonight, as Buffalo is spotty from beyond the arc. The Bulls only average 34% from three-point range this season, however, they have held opponents to under 30% from beyond the arc. One way to beat the Syracuse zone is to make your jump shots, which is somewhat unpredictable from this Buffalo team. Syracuse is actually ranked 29th nationally for points allowed per game (62.8), so the Bulls will need to read this defense as well as any other to be efficient offensively.
The Bulls enter tonight’s game 17th in the nation for points per game (85.2), so the zone’s challenge may not phase them. Again, if Buffalo hits their jump shots they will be fine. However, missing jump shots will find Buffalo in a closer game than they would like. The high-scoring offense of Buffalo against the Syracuse zone defense is the big picture matchup in this one.
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