Maryland Terrapins vs Syracuse Orange Picks and Predictions December 21st 2024

Syracuse Aims to Reverse Power-Conference Struggles Against Maryland

Syracuse will look to break its frustrating trend of near-misses against power-conference opponents when it faces Maryland on Saturday afternoon in the Gotham Classic in New York City.

Syracuse’s Close Calls and Offensive Challenges

The Orange (5-5) have struggled to close out games this season, particularly against stronger competition. All five losses have come to power-conference teams, with four of those defeats decided by five points or fewer. Syracuse has led in the second half in each of those games, including a late advantage in a 75-71 home loss to Georgetown on Dec. 14.

“Every game we’ve been in and we lost, we probably could have and should have won,” forward Jyare Davis said. “We have got to finish.”

Syracuse’s struggles have been compounded by the absence of leading scorer JJ Starling, who is sidelined indefinitely with a broken left hand. Starling, who averages 19.8 points per game, was injured earlier this month, leaving the Orange to rely heavily on their frontcourt.

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Donnie Freeman has stepped up, averaging 13.4 points and 7.9 rebounds, while Chris Bell (11.8 points per game) and Davis (11.1 points per game) have also contributed. However, Syracuse has yet to find a consistent offensive rhythm without Starling.

Maryland’s Early Momentum

Maryland (9-2) enters the game on a strong note, boasting its best start since the 2019-20 season. The Terrapins’ only losses have come against ranked opponents, Marquette and Purdue, by a combined nine points. They lead the nation in scoring margin, averaging an impressive 27.1-point differential per game.

A key to Maryland’s success has been its ability to generate scoring runs, recording 18 double-digit spurts this season, including three during a dominant 111-57 victory over Saint Francis (Pa.) on Tuesday.

“We couldn’t have those runs last year because we couldn’t score,” Maryland coach Kevin Willard said. “When you can’t score, you can’t press.”

Balanced Attack Fuels Terrapins

Maryland has five starters averaging double figures, led by freshman standout Derik Queen, who scores 17.3 points per game. Ja’Kobi Gillespie (13.8 points) and Rodney Rice (12.6 points) have also been consistent contributors, while Julian Reese leads the team in rebounding with 8.5 boards per game.

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The Terrapins’ scoring balance and defensive intensity have made them a formidable opponent, especially in transition. Maryland’s ability to turn defense into offense has been a game-changer, and Syracuse will need to be disciplined to prevent the Terrapins from going on one of their signature runs.

Key Matchup

The game could hinge on Syracuse’s ability to contain Maryland’s balanced offensive attack while finding ways to score consistently without Starling. Donnie Freeman and the Syracuse frontcourt will need to step up to challenge Maryland’s Derik Queen and Julian Reese in the paint.

For Syracuse, this matchup represents an opportunity to secure its first win over a power-conference team this season and gain some momentum heading into ACC play. Maryland, meanwhile, will aim to maintain its strong start and continue its run of offensive dominance.