Former Big East rivals collide on Saturday when Syracuse Basketball faces the Georgetown Hoyas in their 85th official meeting.
The Syracuse Orange are 6-2 so far on the young season. Since losing two games in a row in the 2K Empire Classic, they’ve won four-straight contests and seemed to have found their rhythm since. The Georgetown Hoyas have an ugly loss to Loyola-Marymount Lions but since then, they’ve won four games in a row as well.
They’re coming off arguably their best game of the season against the Northeastern Huskies. The Orange defeated Northeastern, 72-49, in a solid display from Oshae Brissett and Elijah Hughes in a game where Tyus Battle struggled.
Battle finished the game with just two points and three assists on 1-of-7 shooting, but his teammates picked him up. Brissett posted a double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds (7 offensive). Hughes poured in 17 points as he continues to break out during his junior season.
Syracuse is still finding their way on both ends of the floor in 2018-19. With freshman Jalen Carey the only one making an impact, they’re still looking for their third option on offense. It also hasn’t helped that point guard Frank Howard missed the first four games of the year.
Still, the journey to January is what really matters. As the Orange prepare for conference play, getting a win against the Hoyas would certainly help their cause. Here’s a look at three keys for the Orange against Georgetown.