This is the game that needs no introduction. (But if you need one, we have you covered.) For the first time since 2019, Georgetown and Syracuse will be playing in front of fans, in what’s bound to be an electric atmosphere at Capital One Arena. 

Game info

TV Network: Fox

Location: Capital One Arena, Washington DC

Time: 12 pm

All time record vs. Syracuse: Syracuse leads the all-time series 46-41. The Orange won last year’s game 74-69, stopping a last-minute comeback bid by Georgetown. 

Who we’re playing

Syracuse stands at 5-4 on the season, coming into Saturday’s contest against the Hoyas with some high highs and low lows on the court this year. The Orange turned in embarrassing performances in a loss to Colgate and in the Battle 4 Atlantis, going 1-2 there,  only to follow those up with impressive wins against a then-undefeated Indiana squad and ACC opponent Florida State. 

Most recently, Syracuse played in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden against Villanova, where their momentum carried them to a first half lead against their old Big East foe, only to be squandered by a less than impressive second half that ultimately resulted in a double-digit loss. Nevertheless, Syracuse’s unimpressive record underlies the Orange’s tough schedule to start the year, as the Orange have been playing their best basketball coming into DC. 

Opposing Player to Look Out For

The Boeheim Brothers

Jim Boeheim’s two sons, Buddy and Jimmy, have been the main drivers of Syracuse’s offense this year. Buddy Boeheim leads the team with 17.7 ppg, followed by his older brother Jimmy at 14.9 ppg. While Jimmy is coming off arguably his best game of the year, scoring 21 points against a top-ranked Villanova team, Buddy has been held to 6 points in consecutive contests for the Orange. Georgetown should expect Buddy to pick up the scoring for Syracuse, as he is undoubtedly the Orange’s number one option each trip down the floor. While a threat from deep, Buddy has begun to show that he can score off the dribble and loves to show off his high-post fadeaway when matched up with smaller guards. Jimmy is taller and a bit more physical than Buddy, and like Buddy, he is able to knock down the three as well. Where Jimmy shines is using his soft touch in the paint or off the glass. Sizable and skilled, look for both Boeheims to pose problems for the Hoyas.

How Georgetown Matches Up

Georgetown matches up well at the point guard position defensively, where even the smaller Dante Harris should be able to handle Joe Girard III. While prolific from deep—shooting over 50% from three—Girard struggles to create space off the dribble and pass by defenders, averaging nearly as many turnovers as assists per game. Offensively, it might seem comfortable for the Hoyas to shoot over the 2-3 zone, but it may be wiser for them to attack the interior early. Junior Jesse Edwards averages 2.7 blocks per game for the Orange but has not figured out how to avoid getting into foul trouble. Getting him out of the game—and out of the middle of the 2-3—could prove crucial, as Syracuse lacks the size to effectively replace their 7’0” center. Georgetown may be able to roll out a small ball lineup if Edwards is out, something the Hoyas weren’t able to do against South Carolina.

Additionally, on the possessions where Syracuse rolls out its much ballyhooed 2-3 zone, Georgetown will likely turn to their shooters to get around the issue. Georgetown hasn’t had consistent performances from their shooters this year, making it difficult to predict to what level of success the Hoyas will be able to shoot their way out of the zone. Kaiden Rice is coming off an all-time performance where he set Georgetown’s single-game record for most threes made, making 10 on 12 attempts en-route to 34 points, but in the game prior against South Carolina, he put up a goose egg, going 0-10 from the field.

Between Rice and Don Carey—Georgetown’s main “three-point specialists”— their shooting behind the arc is very hot or very cold so far this year. If their shooting proves to be hot on Saturday, that simplifies the gameplan to beat the 2-3 zone by quite a bit, but if one (or both) turn out to be cold, that will force the Hoyas to generate good ball movement to penetrate the interior, which will complicate things quite a bit.

Additional Notes – End of the 2-3?

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? In over 40 years at Syracuse, Jim Boeheim has never been shy to make adjustments to his patented 2-3 zone, even abandoning it for man-to-man. But this year, the defensive scheme has at times looked entirely unprecedented, with the Orange rolling out a 1-1-3 alignment. Syracuse has gone more and more to a 1-1-3, taking away the middle of the zone from offenses and playing tighter on-ball defense at the top of the key. 

Following Syracuse’s loss to Colgate where the Orange managed to give up 100 points, Boeheim’s 1-1-3 has seemingly proved effective, throwing off offenses trying to dump the ball inside and helping Edwards stay out of foul trouble. The Hoyas will have to prepare for the new look, an added layer of game planning to the already deceptive nature of Boeheim’s more traditional 2-3.

Mitchell’s Prediction: Syracuse 72, Georgetown 64

I predict that the Boeheim brothers will combine for over 40 points, while Georgetown’s young talent struggles to figure out the zone.

Will’s Prediction (6-2 on the season): Georgetown 74, Syracuse 72 

This is a prediction that is based on my hope. Syracuse has had some high highs this season, and some very low lows, and Georgetown has been, well, slowly figuring it out. However, whenever these two teams play, it’s a safe bet to toss aside preconceptions of each team’s relative strength, as it always seems to come out to a close duel to the end. I’m picking the Hoyas because I believe Georgetown has a guard advantage (although the Boeheim brothers are formidable opponents, as much as I hate to say it), and Georgetown’s weakness at the 5 won’t be as big a factor for this game as for others. Look for Dante Harris to shine again, and Aminu Mohammed to prove his ability to penetrate the zone (and limit Buddy Boeheim, who he will likely be on) for a national audience. 

Jacob’s Prediction (5-3 on the season): Syracuse 82, Georgetown 75

Even in their wins so far this season, Georgetown hasn’t been great on the defensive end. They’ve simply been able to pull out wins over lesser opponents by running up the scoreboard. That’s not a sustainable strategy against higher-caliber competition. I’m cautiously optimistic that the Hoyas can score against the Syracuse zone, but I have no faith that they can stop the Orange on the other end.

As much as I would love to bash ‘Cuse here, there’s no denying that they’ve already been through the gauntlet—playing quality opponent after quality opponent these last few weeks. In a high-pressure environment, in what should be a packed Capital One Arena, I think that big game experience pays off for the Orange. The Hoyas are still young, and while they may hang tough in this one, I expect Aminu Mohammed and the rest of Georgetown’s young core to make some costly mistakes down the stretch that will prove to be the difference in the game.