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(NCAAB) Miami vs. Syracuse, 03/08/2017 7:00 AM, Score: 62 - 57
Point Spread: 1.50 | -113.00 Syracuse (Home)
Result: Loss
The set: ACC tourney play continues Wednesday from Barclays Center as 20-10 Miami takes on 18-13 Syracuse. Both teams wewre 10-8 in league play and both are hardly assured of hearing their names called come Selection Sunday. That said, most have the Hurricanes solidly in the 68-team NCAA field and the Orange as one of the "last teams in" but neither team wants to lose this game, especially Syracuse.

Miami: The Hurricanes advanced to the Sweet 16 last year (27 wins) but lost guards McClellan (6.3) and Rodriguez (12.6 & 4.5 APG plus the 7-0 Jekiri (7.6 & 8.6). Miami was seemingly surging a week ago, ripping off four straight wins to sneak in to the AP poll at No. 25 (first time the 'Canes had been ranked this season). However, Miami ended the regular season with losses to Va. Tech and Florida St. Veteran guards Reed (15.3 & 4.8) and Newton (13.9-3.6-3.4) are the top scorers but with Newton now coming off the bench, freshman guard Bruce Brown (11.8-5.7-3.3 assists) has taken on more of a leadership role and become the team's No. 2 scoring threat behind Reed. 6-8 senior Murphy (7.1 & 7.5)is the team's top frontcourt player. Miami wins with defense, as it allows just 63.4 PPG (22nd).

Syracuse: The Orange were one of "the last teams in" in the 2016 NCAA tourney and then surprised all by reaching the Final 4. However, like Miami, key players were lost off that team, including Gbinije (17.5-4.1-4.3), Richardson (13.4 & 4.3) and Cooney (12.9). A great help this year was the 6-7 White, a graduate transfer from Nebraska, who leads the team in scoring at 17.9 PPG. He was joined by fellow graduate transfer (from Colorado St.), PG Gillon (11.0 & 5.5 APG). That duo is joined by the 6-9 Lydon (13.4 & 8.3) plus two key freshman, guard Battle (10.8) and the 6-10 Thompson (8.9 & 3.5).

The pick: Miami has has won at least one ACC tournament game in 10 of its 12 seasons in the conference but Syracuse is the team which is in much greater need of a win. The schools met just once this year, with the Orange winning 70-55 in the Carrier Dome, when Syracuse shot 56.8% to Miami's 38.9. White had 22 & 10 and Lydon 20 & 7. This is Boeheim's time of year and it's hard to ignore Miami's poor ATS record, going 8-17 over its last 25 games! Syracuse is an 8* play.