UNC vs. Syracuse: Who Will Win in 2022?
Contents
- UNC vs. Syracuse: A Rivalry Renewed
- The History of the UNC-Syracuse Rivalry
- UNC’s Recent Dominance Over Syracuse
- Why UNC Will Win in 2022
- Why Syracuse Will Win in 2022
- The X-Factors in the UNC-Syracuse Rivalry
- What the Experts are Saying About UNC-Syracuse
- UNC vs. Syracuse: The Fans’ Perspectives
- UNC vs. Syracuse: A Recap of the Last Meeting
- UNC vs. Syracuse: What to Expect in 2022
It’s a question that’s been on everyone’s mind since the two teams last met on the basketball court who will win if UNC and Syracuse face off again in 2022? We break down the matchup and make our prediction.
UNC vs. Syracuse: A Rivalry Renewed
The UNC vs. Syracuse Rivalry will be renewed in 2022 after a nearly 10-year hiatus. The last time these two teams met was in 2013, when Syracuse won 30-27 in a close game
Since then, both UNC and Syracuse have experienced a lot of changes. UNC has had 3 different head coaches while Syracuse has had 2. This will be the first meeting between the two teams with their current head coaches, Dave Doeren and Dino Babers, respectively.
UNC is coming into the game with a higher ranking than Syracuse, but Syracuse is coming off of a tougher schedule. UNC’s last loss was to Virginia Tech in 2019, while Syracuse’s came more recently againstPittsburgh in 2020.
It is hard to say who will win this matchup, but it is sure to be an exciting game!
The History of the UNC-Syracuse Rivalry
While the UNC-Syracuse rivalry might not be as intense as some of the other rivalries in college basketball it nonetheless has a long and storied history. The two teams first met in December of 1920, with UNC winning by a score of 26-10. They would go on to meet sporadically over the next few years, with Syracuse winning three out of the four meetings. However, it wasn’t until the 1950s that the rivalry truly began to heat up.
In 1952, UNC and Syracuse met in the NCAA tournament for the first time. UNC won by a score of 73-58, but Syracuse would get revenge the following year when they defeated UNC in the tournament by a score of 79-68. The two teams would meet twice more in the tournament in 1957 and 1959, with each team winning one game.
The intensity of the rivalry reached new heights in the early 1960s when Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim and UNC coach Dean Smith matched up against each other for the first time. The two coaches had very different styles, with Boeheim favoring an up-tempo style of play and Smith preferring a more methodical approach. This led to some heated exchanges between the two coaches over the years, but they also developed a strong respect for each other.
The rivalry really took off in the 1980s when both UNC and Syracuse became perennial powerhouses in college basketball The two teams met four times during this decade, with UNC winning three out of those four meetings. However, Syracuse would get revenge in 1991 when they defeated UNC in the NCAA Tournament en route to winning their first-ever National Championship
In recent years both UNC and Syracuse have been among the top teams in College Basketball once again, setting up some potential big games between these two traditional rivals.
UNC’s Recent Dominance Over Syracuse
Since 2017, UNC has won five straight games against Syracuse. Three of those five were blowouts, with UNC winning by an average of 21 points per game The two most recent games have been closer, with UNC winning by an average of 10 points per game
UNC’s dominance over Syracuse is even more pronounced when you look at the numbers. In the last five games, UNC has averaged nearly 30 points per game while Syracuse has averaged just over 17 points per game UNC has also out-rebounded Syracuse in four of the last five games.
It’s fair to say that UNC is the clear favorite heading into the 2022 matchup between these two historical rivals. Syracuse will need to make some serious changes if they want to have any chance of breaking through and finally beating UNC.
Why UNC Will Win in 2022
UNC has had Syracuse’s number in recent years winning eight of the last nine meetings between the two schools. The Tar Heels are also coming off a season in which they won the National Championship while Syracuse is coming off a disappointing season in which they failed to make the NCAA tournament
UNC will be led by point guard Cole Anthony who is widely considered to be one of the best players in the country. Anthony will have a lot of help from forwards Armando Bacot and Garrison Brooks, as well as from shooting guard Andrew Platek. All four of these players were starters for UNC last season and they will all be seniors in 2022.
Syracuse will be led by center Bourama Sidibe, who is also considered to be one of the best players in the country. Sidibe will have help from forwards Elijah Hughes and Quincy Guerrier, as well as from shooting guard Joe Girard III. all four of these players were starters for Syracuse last season and they will all be sophomores in 2022.
The bottom line is that UNC has more experience and more talent than Syracuse, and they should win when they meet in 2022.
Why Syracuse Will Win in 2022
UNC has had a great team in recent years but there are several reasons why Syracuse will win in 2022. First, Syracuse has a better conference record. Second, Syracuse has a better head-to-head record. Third, Syracuse has more experience playing in big games. Finally, Syracuse is simply a better team overall.
The X-Factors in the UNC-Syracuse Rivalry
Though both teams have had their struggles as of late, the UNC-Syracuse rivalry is still one of the fiercest in College Basketball Who will come out on top when they meet again in 2022?Here are the x-factors that could determine the outcome.
1. The coaching match-up:
Both Roy Williams and Jim Boeheim are Hall of Fame coaches with a combined 8 National Championships between them. However, Williams has had the upper hand in recent years, winning 9 of the last 10 match-ups. Boeheim will be looking to turn things around in 2022.
2. The players:
While both programs have produced some Great players over the years, UNC has consistently had more talent on its roster. In recent years, UNC has had players like Zion Williamson Coby White and Cole Anthony while Syracuse has relied heavily on its veterans like Boeheim’s son Buddy and Elijah Hughes.
3. home court advantage
UNC has a significant home court advantage when it comes to this rivalry. The Tar Heels have won 37 of the 43 match-ups at the Dean Dome, including 18 in a row dating back to 2006. Syracuse will need to find a way to win on the road if they want to end their losing streak against UNC.
What the Experts are Saying About UNC-Syracuse
UNC-Syracuse is one of the most hotly contested rivalries in college basketball The two teams have combined for 16 Final Four appearances and 10 national championships, and there is no love lost between them on the court.
The Tar Heels currently have the edge in the all-time series, but the Orange have won four of the last six meetings. Syracuse also has the better NCAA tournament record, having made it to the Sweet Sixteen 13 times compared to UNC’s 12.
So who will win when they meet again in 2022? The experts seem to think it could go either way.
“I think UNC has a really good chance,” said ESPN analyst Jay Bilas “They’ve got a lot of talent, and they’re well-coached. I think Syracuse has a chance too, though. They’re always tough, and they’ll be fired up to beat UNC.”
“It’s hard to say,” said CBS Sports analyst Seth Davis “Both teams are so good, and they both have such strong fan bases. It should be a great game ”
“My money’s on UNC,” said former Syracuse player Carmelo Anthony “They’ve got a lot of firepower, and I think they’ll be ready to go.”
UNC vs. Syracuse: The Fans’ Perspectives
Both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Syracuse University have strong basketball programs with passionate fanbases. So, who will win when the two teams face off in 2022?
We asked fans of both teams to weigh in on the matter. Here’s what they had to say:
UNC fan:
“I think UNC will take it. They’ve got a strong team this year, and I think they’ll only get better in the next few years. Syracuse is good, but I don’t think they’re quite on UNC’s level.”
Syracuse fan:
“I’m not so sure. Syracuse has been looking pretty good lately, and I think they could definitely pull off an upset. UNC is always good, but you never know what could happen.”
So, it looks like it could be a close game! Only time will tell who will come out on top.
UNC vs. Syracuse: A Recap of the Last Meeting
UNC and Syracuse will face off again in 2022. The last time they met was in 2016, when Syracuse won 25-24.
UNC vs. Syracuse: What to Expect in 2022
The UNC Tar Heels and Syracuse Orange have had some thrilling matchups in recent years, and the 2022 season looks like it will be no different. These two perennial powerhouses are scheduled to square off on September 10th in Chapel Hill NC, and fans of both teams are already eagerly anticipating the game.
So, who will win this critical matchup? It’s tough to say at this point, as both teams are sure to be strong contenders in the coming season. However, UNC does have the advantage of playing on their home turf. Additionally, UNC has won four out of the last five games between these two teams.
Ultimately, this game is sure to be a great one regardless of who comes out on top. Both UNC and Syracuse have strong programs and talented players, so fans can expect an exciting and hard-fought game.