Pittsburgh vs Syracuse: 2020-21 college basketball game preview, TV schedule

Back from a COVID related delay, Syracuse basketball returns to face off against Pittsburgh, with both teams looking to continue their solid starts to the season

TV Schedule: Wednesday, January 6, 4:30 pm ET. ACCN

Arena: Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York

A third major COVID-19 scare for the Syracuse Orange (6-1) came as an immediate and sobering drawback for the team after rallying from a 16-point deficit to defeat the Buffalo Bulls in overtime last month. But their upcoming opponent, the Pittsburgh Panthers (5-2), stand as no stranger to complications themselves.

During their most recent contest, only three days after Syracuse’s, the Panthers suffered a loss at Louisville’s hands, playing without top ACC scorers Justin Champagnie (17.8 points and 12.3 rebounds per game), Au’diese Toney (16.2 points and 2.7 assists per game), and head coach Jeff Capel.

But even with both teams returning from extended hiatus, the Orange seem like the more rehabilitated team going into the game. Unable return from injury just yet, Champagnie still remains unavailable for the Panthers, as do at least two unnamed players due to contract tracing.

Even though Toney and Coach Capel appear ready to go Wednesday afternoon, the Orange enter the game with a roster more solidified than ever, with all necessary players having completed their quarantine periods. Starting center Bourama Sidibe may even return injury during the game as well.

Shorthanded or not, this remains an important test for both teams thus far during the 2020-21 season. Pittsburgh and Syracuse already find themselves with favorable records, certainly keeping them alive as tournament contenders with Selection Sunday now less than 10 weeks away. At least until we reach the thick of conference play, the game seems likely to dictate which team goes recognized as the true ACC contender, and which falls outside nation-wide notoriety.

Pitt’s best chance to knock off the Orange rests atop Toney’s shoulders, with newly anointed second-option Xavier Johnson needing to maintain his explosive playmaking nature, while simultaneously toning things down to diminish his turnover rate. Although this may seem like a difficult task, the Orange often allow their opponents to hang with them, no matter their roster’s talent and depth, boding well for the Panthers despite their hindrances.

Seemingly every game, even sometimes more than once, the Orange endure offensive droughts that go unquenched for minutes far beyond reasonable extent. Although they lead the ACC with 83.7 points per game, their hot and cold offensive tendencies make them vulnerable to anyone.

However, Pittsburgh’s issues even outside their health-related losses may make it difficult for them to exploit Syracuse’s continued struggles to run their offense consistently. The Panthers continue to shoot an abysmal 60.8% from the line. This offers a glaring advantage for Syracuse, allowing the team to play aggressively, especially on the defensive end.

Additionally, Pitt’s greatest strength far and away comes within the rebounding department, as the Panthers average the second most amongst ACC teams with 45.4 boards per game. But the Orange appear primed to counter this advantage, averaging 44.7 rebounds per game themselves. The Orange will contend on the glass, and if they get Sidibe back, the rebounding battle seems all but theirs.

Syracuse’s Kadary Richmond looked great atop Boeheim’s 2-3 zone especially against Buffalo, so expect him to field significant minutes once again during the game. Another big outing from Quincey Guerrier appears on the horizon too, as Pitt’s conference-low O3P% at 26.3 seems likely to force the Orange to score down around the block, where the sophomore excels as good as anyone.

Fans might want to keep an eye on Toney as well, given his 40.9 3P%. With inside penetration and crisp passing, the Syracuse zone breaks down easier than their fans might want to admit, often surrendering open shots to their opponents, which bodes well for a knock-down threat like Toney. With some notable three-point shooting skills himself and an increased minute load over the last few games resulting from Champagnie’s injury, watch out for a breakout game for Nike Sibande as well.

Although an entertaining game certainly awaits these two squads, I expect the Orange to start out 2021 with a victory, pulling away late after some back-and-forth action.

Champagnie’s injury and the cloud of two other contract-traced players simply bear too much weight while going against a generally satisfactory team like the Orange.

Prediction: Syracuse 87, Pittsburgh 77