Syracuse vs. St. John’s prediction: Kiyan Anthony faces biggest test at MSG

Résumé détaillé

All eyes will be on the sophomore guard at MSG.

Conference realignment in college basketball put a damper on the rivalry between St. John’s and Syracuse, two of the founding members of the Big East Conference. The two teams haven’t met head-to-head since 2022 and are facing off at Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2015.

The Orange enter Sunday’s tilt looking to snap a four-game losing streak to the Red Storm and make a statement early in the season against the No. 13 team in the nation.

Oddsmakers are giving ‘Cuse very little chance of pulling an upset. The Johnnies are 11.5-point favorites ahead of tip-off.

It’s tough to generate buzz around the first handful of games in a college basketball season. Unless it’s a showcase game on national television, chances are the top teams are rolling over lesser competition to get acclimated to the season.

The spread may be double digits, but I imagine the rivalry that used to exist between these teams will be channeled through their fanbases and that should have the Garden buzzing.

Both teams stand to benefit in that case because it will bring out their most competitive selves.

With that in mind, I’m paying close attention to Kiyan Anthony in this game.

The sophomore guard and son of New York basketball legend Carmelo Anthony is all too familiar with MSG as a spectator. Now he has a chance at making a moment as a player.

Anthony leads Syracuse in scoring this season off the bench, averaging 15.7 points and making the most of his minutes through three games. The key is it’s just three games.

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