So far, Syracuse's first season in the ACC is going well. The No. 2 Orange put up their first win surviving on defense against Miami. The win was ugly, but the team managed. Now, they must bounce back for their first conference road test as they face Virginia Tech in ACC action.
Syracuse is one of just six teams that remain undefeated this season and they could feast off the injured Hokies on Tuesday. The team needs a big offensive performance after their 49-44 win against the Hurricanes. Syracuse went just 2 for 8 from beyond the arc in the second half, putting up their lowest total of the season.
The defense for the Orange has been strong. In their last two games, Syracuse has given up just 92 points on 36.2 percent shooting while allowing no more than 65 points in their last seven games. Virginia Tech has ever intention of testing the Orange with their strong long-range shooting.
The Hokies rank sixth nationally shooting 4.5 percent from the 3-point line. Senior Jarell Eddie leads the team with 17.4 points per game, while ranking second in the conference shooting 47.2 from beyond the arc.
Injuries could be the issue for Virginia Tech. The team could be without Sam Smith, Marshall Wood and CJ Barksdale, all top shooting and rebounders for the team. Barksdale averages 5.3 rebounds per game, but the flu could leave him out.
If Syracuse is going to win this and remain undefeated, they will need to take advantage of the inconsistent Hokies defense. Virginia Tech is going through a strong defensive stretch, allowing just 62.3 points in the past seven matchups.
The Hokies enjoy top-ranked matchups. They won their last home game against a top 5 opponent when they beat Duke back in 2011. However, Syracuse has won 14-straight and shows no sign of slowing down.
