The Syracuse Orange have one massive road win this season against Duke, but if they're going to get into the NCAA Tournament, common logic suggests they'll need one more signature victory at minimum. They've got a chance to get that victory on the road on Wednesday night against the Louisville Cardinals.
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SCHEDULING
This is a week all about Louisville for the Orange. They've played so much better basketball of late, winning five straight games, but this is a game which would really bolster their resume. Live bettors should know that this game means a lot more to Syracuse than it does to Louisville, a team which is running out of games before it undertakes its postseason ban.
Louisville's first game since the self-imposed ban was an easy victory against Boston College, but all of a sudden, the Cards have dropped two straight, and this could easily be a third. The Cardinals draw Duke at home on Saturday, and this is a game which could be overlooked against Syracuse.
KEY MATCHUP
Grayson Allen and Demetrius Jackson both lit up this Louisville defense in recent games from beyond the arc, and this could be a real problem against the Orange.
Syracuse isn't the greatest shooting team in the world, and that's why it averages just 71.1 points per game. However, the Orange can hit some threes, especially Michael Gbinijie, Trevor Cooney and Malachi Richardson, all of which are averaging well over two triples per game. There's a real chance that all three of these men knock down at least two of three from downtown in this one, and if that turns out to be the case, the Orange could well exceed their scoring average against a team which has a really underrated defense.
If the Orange are going to get into the mid-70s in this one, they're going to end up being a real treat for live bettors.
KEY STATS & TRENDS
Let's not forget that Syracuse has a good defense as well. The Orange have held their last five foes to an average of just 63.2 points per game, and that's why they've ultimately won all five. They've only covered three of the five, while three of the five have made it past the total.
Louisville meanwhile, has lost three of its last five games, while all five have failed to reach the number.
Damion Lee has made no bones about the fact that he's struggling with Louisville not going to the NCAA Tournament. He's only put up 23 total points in his last two games since his return from an injury. His running mate, Trey Lewis, who also will never know what it's like to play in the NCAA Tournament, has eclipsed his scoring average of 12.2 points per game just once in his last five.
The man who has excelled of late is Donovan Mitchell, who Rick Pitino would be wise to get back on the court as much as possible. He comes off the bench and averages 8.2 points per game, and in his last four, he's put up 47 points in just 83 minutes. When Mitchell is on the court, that could be the clue for live bettors to back the Cardinals.
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