Syracuse (7-3) hosts Cornell (5-4) on Saturday at noon in the Carrier Dome. The Orange has lost three of its last four since winning the Battle 4 Atlantis in late November. With three nonconference games left, SU will look to get back to its winning ways, while Cornell guard Robert Hatter, who averages 19.6 points, stands in its way. Beat writers Sam Blum, Jesse Dougherty and Matt Schneidman weigh in on what they think will happen.

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Sam Blum (6-4)
Syracuse 75, Cornell 62
Orange Nation 

Cornell is a better team than it was when it invaded Syracuse on New Year’s Eve last year. But the Big Red defense is still a big mess and Hatter isn’t enough to single-handedly create a big upset. A win against Cornell, Montana State and Texas Southern doesn’t do much to soothe the shaken confidence of Syracuse fans, but all three are must-wins heading into conference play.

Jesse Dougherty (6-4)
Syracuse 69, Cornell 56
The Big Orange

Syracuse is running out of games that it will be clearly bigger and better than its opponent, and it finally takes full advantage of that against Cornell. Hatter can fill it up for the Big Red, but the Orange’s bigs are the ultimate difference in this one, cleaning up on the offensive glass and having their way inside against a less athletic Cornell frontcourt. Malachi Richardson doesn’t fully snap out of his shooting funk, but he opens up the offense by attacking the rim and Michael Gbinije and Trevor Cooney make enough 3s to bolster the effort inside.

Matt Schneidman (6-4)
Syracuse 71, Cornell 64
Big Red scare

Syracuse certainly doesn’t look like the same team that knocked off back-to-back ranked opponents in the Bahamas. The Orange’s thin frontcourt is being exposed and its identity from beyond the arc has faded. Hatter is the type of player interim head coach Mike Hopkins has said is the key ingredient to beating the zone, a shooter who can chuck 3-pointers over the top. The game is tied late in the second half, but some unlikely foul shooting allows SU to pull away.

Published on December 18, 2015 at 11:49 am