KU basketball vs. Syracuse in Players Era event: Game prediction & betting odds
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas faces Syracuse in Las Vegas; KU favored by 4.5 points; tip 2:30 CT.
- Syracuse defends well inside and forces turnovers; KU must limit Orange 2s.
- Injuries sideline Peterson and Freeman; Bidunga and Tiller needed to score.
The Kansas Jayhawks men’s basketball team plays Syracuse on Tuesday afternoon in the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas.
The Jayhawks (4-2) beat Notre Dame on Monday, while Syracuse lost to Houston.
The all-time series is tied 3-3.
Here is a scouting report and prediction for Tuesday’s showdown:
Kansas basketball vs. Syracuse: Game details
When: 2:30 p.m. Central, Tuesday
Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena (Las Vegas)
TV/streaming: TNT
Opponent’s record: 4-1
KenPom (Ken Pomeroy) ranking: 52
Betting line: Kansas is a 4.5-point favorite.
All statistics are from KenPom.com and EvanMiya. KenPom stats only include Division I competition.
Syracuse Strengths
- Elite defenders: The Orange rank No. 1 in opponent effective field goal percentage (37%).
- Shot-makers inside the arc: Syracuse ranks No. 23 in 2-point percentage (61.6%).
- They force turnovers: The Orange rank No. 25 in defensive turnover percentage (22.8)
Syracuse Weaknesses
- Nothing easy at the line: Syracuse is shooting 56.1% on free throws, ranking No. 364 in the nation.
- Don’t take many 3-pointers: The Orange rank No. 249 in 3-point rate and shoot only 31.2% from deep, ranking No. 241 in 3-point percentage.
- New faces: Syracuse has plenty of new faces, ranking No. 272 in minutes continuity percentage (11.1).
Syracuse Name to Know
6-foot-5 freshman guard Kiyan Anthony (No. 7)
+ Quality scorer (13.8 PPG)
+ Solid rebounder (2.6 RPG)
- Not a great passer (1.6 APG) - Struggling from deep (shooting 27.8% on 3-pointers)
- Turnover prone (1.4 TPG)
- Bad free throw shooter (shooting 46.2% on free throws)
Kansas-Syracuse game prediction
Each team is missing its best player, so this matchup should be fun — and balanced. Kansas will be without Darryn Peterson (hamstring strain) while Syracuse is without forward Donnie Freeman (lower body injury).
KU’s half-court offense will be tested by the Orange. The Jayhawks have struggled to manufacture quality looks without Peterson, but now KU will have to be extra careful. Syracuse leads the nation in opposing team turnover percentage. According to KenPom, Syracuse does an excellent job of defending both 2-pointers and 3-pointers, ranking highly in both categories. That said, the first Power Four opponent the Orange faced was Houston on Monday — and that was an overtime defeat.
On the defensive end, KU big men Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller will have to wall off the paint as Syracuse’s offense primarily comes from 2-pointers.
This game will come down to two things: If KU can take care of the ball and if the Jayhawks can limit Syracuse inside the arc. Bidunga and Tiller did an excellent job of the latter on Monday.
I expect that to continue vs. Syracuse. It’s why I think KU ends up winning.
Kansas 73, Syracuse 65
Shreyas’ pick to cover the spread: Kansas (-4.5)
Shreyas’ season record: 5-1
Shreyas’ record against the spread: 4-2
KU Player to Watch: Bryson Tiller
Bryson Tiller had the best game of his young Jayhawks career Monday. He had 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Tiller has had a few good games this season, but has yet to string together a consistent run of standout performances.
It’s clear he and Bidunga are finally getting used to playing with each other. That was on full display vs. Notre Dame, and the Jayhawks could use more of the same Tuesday.
If Tiller can give Kansas double-digit points and five-plus rebounds, it will go a long way toward the Jayhawks winning this game.
