Syracuse Orange women’s basketball: what to watch for vs. #13 Duke

Hold your hat: where is this real the fun begins.

of syracuse orange The women’s basketball team (13-6, 4-4) started the 10-game stretch, ACC Tournament The program will face four ranked opponents and three additional ACC programs scheduled to participate in the NCAA Tournament.

It’s time for Orange’s resume build, recently classified as the “Next for Out” team in ESPN’s latest news. Bracket science projection.That was before then-unwinnable double-digit losses in conference play Georgia Tech squad. “Cuse is in win-win mode moving forward if teams are considering making some noise in March.

First on the slate is the classic conference rivalry match between ‘Cuse and #13. duke blue devils (16-2, 6-1). Duke’s resume remains near-perfect, with him having only two losses against fifth place. U Conn and #17 North Carolina.The Blue Devils are 9th in the NET Ranking, 2nd after ACC 6th. Notre DameDuke is now tied for first place in the conference after being predicted to finish seventh in the ACC’s Blue Ribbon preseason voting.

The information session between Syracuse and Duke will take place in Durham at 12:00 PM ET, and the game will be available to stream on ESPN’s ACC network.

Syracuse are looking to avoid a three-game losing streak for the first time this season, but here are some highlights between the Orange and Blue Devils.

Question #1: Can Orange’s offense stay alive against Duke’s defense?

The craziest part of the Blue Devils’ success this season is that their offense isn’t all that elite. Duke ranks 10th in the ACC in points per game. are dominant across the board, ranking first in terms of opponent points per game (51 PPG, or 6 points). low It’s even crazier than the second-best defense in the conference (and even crazier given Duke’s difficult schedule so far this season) and is first in opponent rebounds per game.

Syracuse’s offense averaged only 56.5 points per game in its final two contests against No. 7 Notre Dame and Georgia Tech. Duke is a whole other animal trying to deny himself an opportunity for Dyaisha Fair (now his 3rd best scorer in the ACC). Teisha Hyman, Georgia Woolley, and company need to step up across the board.

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Question #2: Can Cuse reach the 70 point marker?

It’s an odd benchmark for total points, but Syracuse has only lost two games (against Louisville and Purdue) when the Orange scored 70+ points. Duke is a highly efficient but low-volume offensive team with his goal percentage, three-point percentage and free throw percentage on the field, where he ranks among the top six in the ACC.

Limiting the Blue Devils’ scoring opportunities is the Orange’s best chance of winning. That means Syracuse has less turnovers (Duke ranks second in opponent turnovers) and wins battles on the perimeter (both programs have seen opponents 3-pointers in his defense). Must be ranked top 5 in ACC).

Question #3: How does Dariana Lewis anchor her defense?

Most of my attention goes to Lewis (9.8 PPG, 9.7 RPG, and 1.7 BPG). Lewis was quietly (and consistently) his second or third best player for Syracuse by day. She struggled against Notre Dame, especially Fighting her Irish top forward Crop. Against Duke, controlling her board is a must as Orange allows her second-most rebounds against an opponent in the conference.

Syracuse vs Duke preview by the numbers

total: Syracuse is 3-7 against Duke, with the Orange losing their final two games to the Blue Devils. This includes his 1-2 record against Duke on the road.

Last Match: ‘Cuse lost 74-65 at home last season.

Win or lose means: A win would easily give the Oranges their most impressive win of the season, but a loss would send Syracuse to a three-game losing streak for the first time this season.

predict: I’m as optimistic as I can be, but this Duke team is a tough one. worthy of attention Weakness of orange. Cuse can hang out just like the Notre Dame games, but I think he’ll end up going out 68-56 in the end.