The “Squeeze the Orange” Game Thread: Syracuse at no. 21 Rutgers

Syracuse (3-0) at No. 21 Rutgers (3-0)

How To Watch, Listen, News & Notes

Where: The RAC in Piscataway, New Jersey

Tip-off: Tuesday, December 8 at 9:30 p.m. ET.

TV: ESPN2 - Mike Couzens & Jon Crispin

Stream: ESPN App

Radio: Live Listen - Rutgers Sports Properties Radio Network - (WCTC 1450 AM/ WOR 710 AM/ Sirius 134 / XM 196, Jerry Recco & Joe Boylan; WRSU 88.7 FM - Chris Tsakonas & Brant Wolff

KenPom Rankings: Rutgers 32nd, which is three spots worse since Hofstra win; Syracuse 40th, which is the same since win over Rider.

Efficiency Rankings: Rutgers - Offense 106.0 (61st) Defense 87.7 (12th); Syracuse - Offense 107.1 (47th) Defense 89.8 (32nd)

KenPom Prediction: Rutgers 72 Syracuse 69; Rutgers is given a 61% chance to win.

OTB Guide to KenPom

Vegas Line: Rutgers -4.5

ACC/Big Ten Challenge history: Rutgers is 2-4 all-time and lost last season at Pitt.

Series History: Syracuse leads 39-9 and has won the past 13 meetings. The last time Rutgers was victorious in this series was against the eventual national champions in 2003 behind a 31 point performance from Jerome Coleman and a three-pointer off the glass to win it from Herve Lamizana.

Syracuse SB Nation Site: Nunes Magician

Q&A with Nunes Magician

Key Contributors

Syracuse - 6’5” junior Alan Griffin (16.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 45.5% 3-pt FG); 6’7” sophomore Quincy Guierrer (16.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 69.0% FG); 6’1” sophomore Joe Girard III (11.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals); 6’10” senior Marek Dolezaj (10.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 1.3 blocks, 50.0% FG); 6’8” freshman Woody Newton (9.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 block, 60.0% FG); 6’5” freshman Kadary Richmond (9.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 2.7 steals, 1.3 blocks, 56.3% FG)

Rutgers - 6’6” junior Ron Harper Jr. (21.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 57.8% FG, 37.5% 3-pt FG); 6’2” senior Jacob Young (15.3 points, 5.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 42.9% 3-pt FG); 6’4” junior Montez Mathis (15.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 51.3% FG); 6’11” Cliff Omoruyi (8.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 83.3% FG); 6’10” redshirt junior Myles Johnson (7.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.3 blocks, 1.7 assists, 64.3% FG); 6’6” sophmore Paul Mulcahy (6.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 53.3% FG); 6’7” Mawot Mag (4.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 55.6% FG)

Injury Update: Geo Baker is unlikely to play tonight and to read more about head coach Steve Pikiell’s update on his status, click here.

Game Preview

The first big game is finally here as Rutgers hosts for Big East for Syracuse. The first matchup in eight seasons between the two schools takes places as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. To make things stranger, Rutgers enters the game as the ranked team and favorite. Both teams are expected to have key players out, Geo Baker and Buddy Boeheim. That’s in addition to Bourama Sidibe out for the Orange. How the Scarlet Knights defend the three and attack the zone on offense are the two major keys. Join us during the action!