Syracuse Orange vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons Picks and Predictions December 31st 2024

Syracuse Still Chasing Signature Win as Wake Forest Visits

Syracuse coach Adrian Autry has set high expectations for his team, but the Orange have struggled to meet them in the early stages of the season. As they prepare to host Wake Forest on Tuesday, Syracuse will aim for a more complete performance and their first significant victory of the campaign.

Syracuse’s Challenges This Season

The Orange (6-6, 0-1 ACC) have underwhelmed against lower-tier opponents, with narrow victories over Le Moyne, Colgate, and others by an average margin of just 7.4 points. Their most recent outing, a 75-63 win over Bucknell, snapped a stretch of four losses in five games but still left much to be desired for head coach Adrian Autry.

“I have a standard, and we’re not there yet,” Autry said. “I’ve got to try to find the guys that are going to compete at that standard.”

Against major-conference opponents, Syracuse has faltered entirely. Losses to Texas, Texas Tech, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Georgetown, and Maryland have exposed their inability to rise to the occasion, with blowout defeats against the Volunteers and Terrapins further underscoring the gap.

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Key Players to Watch for Syracuse

Senior guard Jaquan Carlos has called on his teammates to step up their intensity, particularly as the competition stiffens in conference play.

“From now on, it’s going to be very good teams,” Carlos said. “We have to throw the first punch and just keep throwing punches after that.”

Syracuse will need strong performances from Judah Mintz and J.J. Starling, who lead the team in scoring, to contend with Wake Forest.

Wake Forest’s Offensive Woes

The Demon Deacons (9-4, 1-1 ACC) also enter Tuesday’s game with something to prove. Wake Forest has fallen to three ranked opponents this season, all by double digits, including a 73-62 loss to then-No. 25 Clemson in their last game on Dec. 21.

While Hunter Sallis (17.8 points per game) and Cameron Hildreth (12.6 points per game) have been reliable scoring options, the team has struggled to find consistent contributors beyond them. Against Clemson, the other three starters combined for just nine points.

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Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes voiced his frustration, emphasizing the need for other players to step up.

“I’d like to see somebody step up and take the minutes,” Forbes said. “We’re searching and nobody’s really just taking it. Hopefully, when we come back [from the break], someone will.”

What’s at Stake

For Syracuse, Tuesday’s game represents an opportunity to reset as ACC play heats up. A win over Wake Forest could serve as a much-needed confidence boost and a step toward meeting Autry’s high standards.

For Wake Forest, finding additional scoring depth will be crucial to navigating the rest of the season successfully.

With both teams searching for consistency, this game could mark a turning point for the winner and deepen the struggles of the loser.