Syracuse (4-1, 0-1 Atlantic Coast) travels to Brooklyn to match up with Oklahoma State (5-0) in the first game of the Barclays Center portion of the NIT Season Tip-Off. SU is riding a four-game winning streak as it meets its first top-50 opponent since its season-opener against Virginia. 

Here’s what the beat writers predicted for the outcome of the game.

Nick Alvarez (5-0)
How bout them Cowboys?
Oklahoma State 68, Syracuse 61

Statistically, these two teams have had nearly identical starts to the season. Syracuse ranks 71st in adjusted offensive efficiency, Oklahoma State is 64th, per KenPom. The Orange defense is 21st nationally, OSU’s is 37th. In a normally-scheduled year with no ACC opener, this game would feature two undefeated squads in the Barclays Center —  the true Mecca of New York basketball. The Cowboys strength lies in their well-roundedness. Forward Yor Anei ranks second in the nation in rim defending, blocking one out of every five two-point field goals when he’s on the floor. And guard Isaac Likekele is second on the team in points (12.2 ppg) and first in assists (23). Syracuse’s best chance at winning will sound familiar: Make their shots, this time against a team that holds their opponent to a 25.7% clip from 3. Remember the next six days when the annual SU resume debate crops up in March. Oklahoma State, Iowa and either Ole Miss or Penn State all offer resume-boosting, nonconference wins that SU will need. But for their first test against the Cowboys, expect a four-game Orange winning streak to come to an end.

Michael McCleary (5-0)
Ya herd?!
Syracuse 65, Oklahoma State 61

These are strikingly similar teams. Strong defenses, middle of the pack offenses and good enough rosters to beat up on mid-major nonconference opponents. But, there are some things that separate the Orange from the Cowboys. The main thing is 3-point shooting. Only two of Oklahoma State’s five wins are by 10-plus points. Every team the Orange have played since Virginia, they’ve beaten by at least 16 points. It’s not like OSU is playing notable opponents either. Among its single-digit wins are Yale, Western Michigan and even Oral Roberts (who the Cowboys beat by just five). Like the Orange, Oklahoma State probably has some early-season problems to work through. But at this stage of the season, SU’s 3-point shooting is strong enough that — in a presumably lower-scoring game — a few timely makes can create a large cushion for the Orange to fall back on. Oklahoma State will make it close, but expect the Orange’s offense to push them over the top.

Josh Schafer (5-0)
Cowboy down
Syracuse 67, Oklahoma State 62 

Syracuse will face its first true test since Virginia on Wednesday night. The Cowboys haven’t played anyone close to that caliber yet, which should favor the Orange early. With Anei dominating the rim defensively for Oklahoma State this won’t be a game where Bourama Sidibe or Marek Dolezaj make the difference. This is the type of game an Elijah Hughes or Buddy Boeheim takeover could push the Orange over the top. This game should’ve been a homecoming for Jalen Carey. With him out due to a thumb injury, the play of his replacements, Joe Girard III and Brycen Goodine, might not win Syracuse a game entirely. But they could lose them one.

Published on November 26, 2019 at 9:28 pm