Syracuse men’s basketball: what to watch for vs Tennessee

It’s the last big non-conference opportunity for the Syracuse Orange (4-3) tomorrow night when the #17 Tennessee Volunteers (7-1) visit the JMA Wireless Dome for the SEC/ACC Challenge. Last year in Knoxville, Tennessee won 96-70 in a game where they scored 44 points in the paint.

The game tips at 7:00 on ESPN2 and here’s what we’re watching for:

Kevin: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?

The Orange took #2 Houston to overtime in a game that they should have won. They came back and battled Kansas and then was neck and neck with Iowa State for 20 minutes before a complete collapse. Now Syracuse returns home to face another top 20 squad in the Volunteers. Can Syracuse find their shooting touch? If not, it’s going to be another long night in the JMA Dome against a team that has an efficient offense and is very good on the offensive boards.

I’m looking to see if Syracuse can play this game with the energy and intensity they showed against Houston. While winning (especially if Donnie Freeman is out) doesn’t end their NCAA chances, the Orange need to show that they are going to give it all they have to try and get a marquee win.

Sam: Two feet in the paint

Last season, I discussed how Syracuse struggled to penetrate the paint against Tennessee, leading to actions starting much higher up the floor. In Vegas, the Orange guards once again settled for a lot of bad shots, and weren’t taking advantage of opportunities when they got in the paint in the first place. SU’s halfcourt offense needs to be better, and the Vols present a challenge in that department.

Augie: Active Hands on Defense 

The Orange have been doing such a good job of using their active hands on defense to tip passes and force turnovers. They are going to need to do this again in order to have success. Feeding off the crowd in the Dome and bringing defensive intensity for all 40 minutes is going to be what can help propel the Orange on Tuesday. If they let up, the result may not be one that they will like, but there were stints in Vegas that showed this could be one of the best defensive units in the country. If that defense shows up, this game is winnable.

Max: Find a way to crash the glass

It’s not going to be easy, but limiting Tennessee’s second chances is priority one for a Syracuse victory. The Volunteers thrive off gathering their own misses with a 45.6% offensive rebound percentage per KenPom (second best in NCAA), while the Orange rank in the bottom half of the country in allowing such chances. Both teams sport above-average defense, so each extra possession will be a massive advantage in a projected low-scoring game.

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What will you be watching for in this one?