Syracuse Orange vs Virginia Cavaliers Picks and Predictions March 8th 2025

Virginia, Syracuse Look to Build Consistency Going Into ACC Tourney

Neither Virginia nor Syracuse has had the season they envisioned, but both teams have a chance to build momentum for next week’s ACC Tournament in Charlotte, N.C. when they meet Saturday in Syracuse.

Virginia (15-15, 8-11 ACC) was projected to finish fifth in the conference but currently sits tied for ninth, struggling to find consistency all year.

Syracuse (12-18, 6-13 ACC) has lost five of its last six games and enters the final weekend of the regular season tied for 14th in the ACC standings.

Virginia Fighting to Find Stability

The Cavaliers have been inconsistent all season, but they showed resilience in a 60-57 win over Florida State on Tuesday, overcoming a poor shooting night and turnovers.

Virginia shot just 39.6 percent from the field and committed 14 turnovers, yet still managed to pull out the victory.

“The group has shown grit, and that’s the one thing they did — they didn’t fracture down the stretch,” Virginia interim coach Ron Sanchez said. “They could have. … This is what growth looks like.”

That ability to grind out wins will be crucial if Virginia wants to make a deep ACC Tournament run.

Syracuse Struggling to Close Games

Syracuse has blown double-digit leads in its last three losses, failing to finish games down the stretch.

Most recently, the Orange led SMU by 12 points midway through the second half on Tuesday, only to collapse in the final five minutes and lose.

Syracuse did not make a field goal in the final five minutes, something that has plagued the team in multiple games this season.

“This has been a story the last couple games, being up at the half and not closing out the right way,” Syracuse guard Jaquan Carlos said. “We just have to do a better job with that.”

Key Players Looking to Break Slumps

Both teams feature talented guards who have struggled with their shooting in recent games.

For Syracuse, J.J. Starling (18.0 PPG) has shot below 40 percent in five of his last six games. In the loss to SMU, he was just 3-of-17 from the field, failing to get into a rhythm.

For Virginia, Isaac McKneely (14.2 PPG) leads the Cavaliers in scoring but has been just 8-of-24 from the field in his last two games. In the win over Florida State, McKneely shot 3-of-11, continuing his recent shooting struggles.

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What’s at Stake?

For Virginia, a win could help solidify a better ACC Tournament seed, while Syracuse looks to snap its losing streak and gain confidence heading into postseason play.

Both teams need to find consistency before the ACC Tournament begins next week, making this a critical matchup for momentum.

Expect an intense battle in Syracuse, as Virginia looks to grind out another win and Syracuse fights to close strong at home.