It’s time for Ivy Hoops Online’s annual exchange with The Juice Online since another edition of Cornell-Syracuse is upon us. But this is not just another Big Red vs. Orange matchup. It’s the season opener for both teams, and it’s the first occasion for longtime Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim to square off with his son, Cornell freshman forward Jimmy Boeheim.
Here is IHO’s look at Cornell for The Juice, and here’s The Juice Online’s take on the Syracuse side of the Boeheim Bowl:
Ivy Hoops Online: Tell us about The Juice.
The Juice: The Juice (then called The Big Orange) was founded in 1992, one of approximately 50 independent publications devoted to the coverage of its school’s athletics programs. In 2002, it became a full-color, glossy magazine which was owned by Fox Sports. The print product ceased publication in June of 2010 and was relaunched as The Juice Online in December of 2010. In February 2012, The Juice Online partnered with SportsNet New York, the official television home of the New York Mets and New York Jets. As part of SNY.tv’s Blog Network, The Juice Online supplements SNY’s coverage of more than 125 college football and basketball games, as well as other college sports programming.
IHO: What are the major storylines with Syracuse coming into this season?
TJ: Syracuse comes into this season without four of its starters from last year. Graduate transfers John Gillon and Andrew White are now playing in the G-League. Tyler Lydon declared for the NBA Draft after his sophomore season and now plays for the Denver Nuggets, while Taurean Thompson has transferred to Seton Hall. Combine that with the losses of bigs Dajuan Coleman and Tyler Roberson, and Syracuse will come into this season with one of the most inexperienced rosters in the ACC. This is also the last season of the sanctions against Syracuse, and many fans are looking past this year into the 2018-19 season, when five-star forward Darius Bazley, sharpshooter Buddy Boeheim (son of head coach Jim Boeheim) and four-star point guard Jalen Carey come into the mix. In the meantime, this current Orange team will likely suffer through growing pains throughout the season.
IHO: Who are Syracuse’s standout players?
SU’s lone returning starter from last year, Tyus Battle, is already being projected as a late first round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Though many people remember SU’s incredible win against Duke last season for Gillon’s buzzer beater, it was Battle who propelled the Orange to that win with clutch baskets down the stretch. He can effortlessly get into the lane and finish, and is also not afraid to fire away from downtown (just ask Clemson). Syracuse also welcomes in USF graduate transfer Geno Thorpe into the mix. Thorpe led USF in scoring and assists last season, and while he won’t be counted on to assume as much of the offensive burden, he will be one of SU’s top options. And, though Syracuse swung and missed on Jordan Tucker (committed to Duke) and Quade Green (Kentucky) in the last recruiting cycle, freshman wing Oshae Brissett has impressed in SU’s two exhibition games as a starter.
IHO: What are your predictions for the game?
TJ: I really like what Brian Earl has done with his Princeton style offense, and with the Orange being so young, I can see a guy like Stone Gettings causing fits for the zone at the top of the key and Matt Morgan being able to keep the game close with his scoring ability. This game will be close into the middle of the second half before the length of the zone begins to frustrate the Big Red, resulting in a 77-61 win for Syracuse.
IHO: Bonus question: What’s your over/under on how many times the ACC Network Extra broadcast mentions that Jim Boeheim is coaching against his son Jimmy?
TJ: I’ll go 10 times on Jim Boeheim coaching against Jimmy Boeheim, and then another five for Buddy Boeheim joining Jim Boeheim at Syracuse for the 2018-19 season. I’m probably going to be way, way under, though.