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Virginia vs Syracuse: 2019-20 College basketball game preview, TV Schedule

By Rudi Richards

SYRACUSE, NY - MARCH 04: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange shakes hands with head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers after the game at the Carrier Dome on March 4, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. Virginia defeats Syracuse 79-53. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - MARCH 04: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange shakes hands with head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers after the game at the Carrier Dome on March 4, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. Virginia defeats Syracuse 79-53. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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Syracuse will welcome the reigning college basketball champion Virginia Cavaliers to the Carrier Dome on Wednesday, as both teams look to start strong.

TV Schedule: Wednesday, November 6, 9pm ET, ACCN.

Arena: Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY.

This is one of the most intriguing match-ups of this first week of the college basketball season. It sees the 2018-19 National Champions, the Virginia Cavaliers begin their title defense campaign on the road against Jim Boeheim‘s Syracuse Orange. This Syracuse side has lost four of its starters from last season and has brought in a ton of new talent – which will make this season all the more interesting for Orange fans. In terms of this battle, expect to see a new look Virginia side challenged against Boeheim’s notorious defensive system.

After losing De’Andre Hunter, Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy to the NBA, following a championship-winning season, this college basketball juggernaut side still has plenty to keep themselves rolling. Virginia also loses Center, Jack Salt who was a senior last year. The Hoos have brought in a number of freshmen. Their recruiting class is headlined by shooting guard Casey Morsell.

This year’s workload will be largely reliant on Mamadi Diakite. The forward was an important part of the puzzle last season, averaging 7.4 PPG and 4.4 RPG in 21.8 MPG. Expect to see him make a much bigger impact on the floor this season along with the likes of returning guards Kihei Clark and Braxton Key, who’ll both have duties running this Cavalier offense this year.

Virginia’s opening night hosts will be looking forward to Wednesday night, themselves, as they begin a new era – one that’ll leave plenty of holes in the game plan to fill due to the departures of several key players including Tyus Battle and Oshae Brissett. Syracuse point guard Frank Howard and big man Pascal Chukwu both graduated after last season’s disappointing ending, which saw the Orange lose in the NCAA Tournament first round to the Baylor Bears. This new era gives Boeheim and his team plenty to do and this Syracuse recruiting class, along with the likes of Marek Dolezaj, Elijah Hughes and co, makes for a bright near future for Orange fans to be excited about.

There are plenty of names to look out for from a Syracuse perspective, however the main one is Quincy Guerrier. Guerrier is a four-star recruit who could potentially make an impact straight off the bat. The Canadian native has been tipped as a potential first-round pick type of talent. His frame of 6’7 and 220 makes him a wing prospect who’ll bring plenty of productivity to ‘Cuse this season, with plenty of slashing ability, defensive prowess and all-round skill set on the floor. It might not be a huge year for the Orange, in terms of wins, but there’ll be plenty of talent on show – signifying the success of this great program.

Ranking top mid-major stars for 2019-20. dark. Next

Virginia will go into this game as favorites, but it’ll be a trying place for them to go in their first game. Expect the dome to be loud and for Syracuse to give it everything they’ve got. As both are new-look sides, that’ll be an interesting one to watch and to gauge where both teams are at to start the year.

Prediction: Virginia 68-59 Syracuse.