Syracuse Seeks Sweep of Struggling Boston College
The Syracuse Orange have had a tough season, but they have a chance to complete a season sweep of the Boston College Eagles when the teams meet on Saturday.
Can Syracuse Bounce Back After Duke Blowout?
Syracuse (10-13, 4-8 ACC) has dropped four of its last five games, including a lopsided 83-54 loss to No. 2 Duke on Wednesday. The Orange struggled on both ends of the floor, allowing the Blue Devils to shoot 56.6% while also turning the ball over 14 times and going just 6-for-23 from beyond the arc.
“The biggest thing is, we have to do a better job of playing longer consistently,” Syracuse coach Adrian Autry said. “I know we’re heading in the right direction, and we’ll be fine.”
One of the few bright spots this season for Syracuse was its 79-71 road win over Boston College on Jan. 11. In that game, J.J. Starling exploded for 26 points—20 of which came in the second half—while Eddie Lampkin Jr. recorded a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
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Boston College Looking to Snap Its Slide
Boston College (10-12, 2-9 ACC) has lost seven of its last eight games, including its first matchup against Syracuse. The Eagles were blown out 84-58 by Louisville on Wednesday despite a 19-point effort from Donald Hand Jr.
Chad Venning, the team’s second-leading scorer at 12.8 points per game, missed that contest with a foot injury. His status for Saturday remains uncertain.
“I don’t think it’s any major issue with his foot, but something’s going on there,” Boston College coach Earl Grant said. “We didn’t play well enough to win the game. Simple.”
BC struggled from beyond the arc in its first meeting with Syracuse, going just 4-for-16 from deep. The Eagles will need a stronger performance from their bench as well, after their reserves managed just six points on 2-for-11 shooting in that game.
Will Syracuse Continue Its Dominance Over BC?
The Orange have won 12 of the last 13 meetings between these teams. With both squads looking to turn their seasons around, this matchup presents an opportunity for Syracuse to get back on track and for Boston College to finally break through.