Beat writers predict Syracuse to start off ACC play with win at Virginia Tech
Syracuse opens up conference play on Saturday at Virginia Tech, and The Daily Orange beat writers are predicting SU to pick up the win. Chase Gaewski | Staff Photographer
Jacob Klinger (11-2): Syracuse 75, Virginia Tech 50
Pokey Hokies
Virginia Tech simply can’t keep up as a team that already struggles on the boards will be without its leading rebounder, Joey van Zegeren. Chris McCullough swings back into form in his Atlantic Coast Conference debut and Rakeem Christmas also dominates to get Syracuse off to a fresh start in conference play. That’s not to say SU is or will be “back,” but the Hokies did lose to Radford.
Phil D’Abbraccio (11-2): Syracuse 66, Virginia Tech 47
Ho, ho, Hokies
Virginia Tech’s leading rebounder, van Zegeren, only averages 5.3 rebounds per game — barely more than Tyler Roberson, Syracuse’s third-best board-grabber. But van Zegeren has been suspended indefinitely, and that makes the Hokies much more vulnerable on the inside. It’ll still be (Rakeem) Christmas season down low, at least for Syracuse’s ACC opener.
Jesse Dougherty (11-2): Syracuse 70, Virginia Tech 62
Getting technical
Syracuse is ready to put four nonconference losses in the rearview mirror — and that’s a lot easier to say when conference place kicks off at Virginia Tech. The Hokies have some young talent but those fresh gunners haven’t ever seen the Orange’s 2-3 zone. By the end of the day on Saturday they will have, and the results will be less than desirable. Remember the last time a Buzz Williams team tried to score on SU? I’ll give you a hint: it was a much more talented Marquette squad that could do next to nothing. Syracuse scampered into the Final Four. Defense is the name of the game and the Orange starts unscathed in ACC play.
