#2 Orange (28-1) vs Huskies (17-10)
The Syracuse Orange are looking primed for a #1 seed in the tournament. They still have just the one loss at Notre Dame which is looking better and better everyday as the Irish climb the rankings.
Saturday February 25
Gampel Pavillion – Storrs, CT
9:00PM
Moneyline: No money line currently listed
Spread: Syracuse -4.5
O/U: 131
Syracuse
Plus it occurred when Fab Melo was out of the lineup. They have cruised through this Big East season with an ease that I just can’t remember.
This team seems to be getting better and deeper while other teams are shortening their benches preparing for a tournament push.
That depth is showing in the continued development of guard Dion Waiters and forward C.J Fair.
Waiters has been solid as the team’s number two scorer all year long while Fair has been superb of late scoring in double figures the last 4 games to sneak up to 3rd in scoring for the Orange.
He is also tied with Fab Melo as the team’s leading rebounder. This team may not have a go to superstar but they are not lacking in options and play well together.
Connecticut
The same may not be said for the Connecticut Huskies who seem the exact opposite of the sum of their parts.
Many thought these two teams were a coin flip for best in the Big East in the preseason but that is not how things have panned out. The Huskies have struggled all year long and to be honest they might actually need this win to assure they receive the chance to defend their title. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
They have won only three of their last ten.
The Huskies will probably have the two best players on the floor in shooting guard Jeremy Lamb and center Andre Drummond.
They have other good talents too, but where last year Kemba Walker willed them to win this year they seem to do just enough to lose. Are we seeing a team that is ready to make a run like last year’s or are we seeing a talented team going through a lost season.
Two weeks ago they lost to Syracuse at the Carrier Dome by almost 20 but it was a much closer game than the final made it look.
Spread Pick: Connecticut +4.5
O/U Pick: Over
Score Prediction: Connecticut 68 – Syracuse 65
