Scottrade Center – St. Louis, MO
Tip-off: Friday, 12:15 p.m. ET
Line: Dayton -1.5; O/U: 131

No. 10 seed Syracuse looks for revenge against No. 7 seed Dayton in the first round of the NCAA tournament after the Flyers took out the Orange in the Big Dance in 2014.

Syracuse (19-13 SU, 16-15 ATS) wasn’t expected to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament after losing to Pittsburgh by one in the second round of the ACC Tournament. But here the Orange are, back in the field of 68 for the first time since 2014. Coincidentally, their run as the No. 3 seed came to an end against No. 11 Dayton, 55-53, in the second round two years ago. (The two teams haven’t met since then.) The Flyers (13-17-1 ATS) reached the Elite Eight in 2014 and returned to the NCAA tournament—again as an 11 seed—last season, falling to No. 3 Oklahoma in the third round. Jim Boeheim’s club will perhaps be rejuvenated by the shocking selection of the committee, but it comes into the tournament ice-cold. The Orange have dropped five of six (3-3 ATS), but the Flyers haven’t been so hot themselves. After winning nine in a row from Jan. 12-Feb. 12, the Atlantic 10 regular season co-champions have gone 4-4 (1-6-ATS) to close out the season (1-8-1 ATS in its last 10). The No. 1 seed in the Atlantic 10 Tournament, Dayton lost to No. 4 Saint Joseph’s, 82-79, in the semifinals. Neither team is dealing with significant injuries heading into the contest. The winner will play either No. 2 seed Michigan State or No. 10 seed Middle Tennessee State in the Midwest Region Round of 32.

Though Dayton cooled off in the final month of the season, it did win 18 of its final 23 games. The Flyers played five neutral-site games, going 3-2 (2-3 ATS). Archie Miller’s squad uses time off to its advantage. In 16 games this season in which Dayton had three-plus days’ rest, it went 14-2 (10-5 ATS). Dayton was the favorite in 27 of its 32 games this season, going 22-5 SU but just 11-15-1 ATS. The Flyers are a veteran team with plenty of NCAA tournament experience. These guys have been there before. Junior G Charles Cooke (15.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG) leads the way for the Flyers, who boast three other double-digit scorers in senior F DyShawn Pierre (13.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 2.3 APG), junior G Scoochie Smith (11.7 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 4.3 APG) and junior F Kendall Pollard (10.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 1.4 APG). Dayton averaged slightly more points (73.2 PTS For) than Syracuse (70.2) this season and shot better from the field (46.0 FG% to 42.7 FG%), but had a slightly worse points-against average. The total has gone OVER in eight of Dayton’s last 11 games.

Not many people expected the Orange to return to the NCAA tournament after losing to Pittsburgh in the ACC Tournament, but here they are with a chance to prove that they belong in the field of 68. Syracuse didn’t play well at the end of the season, but it does have some impressive wins on its resume (UConn, Texas A&M, Duke, Notre Dame). This Orange roster isn’t as talented as ones in years past, but there are still some playmakers who can take over a game. All-ACC Second Team selection G Michael Gbinije (17.8 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.4 APG) will be the best player on the floor on Friday. The senior provides leadership and experience, and comes into the game hot, having scored at least 16 points in 10 straight games. Freshman G Malachi Richardson (13.2 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.3 APG) made the All-ACC Freshman Team and senior G Trevor Cooney (12.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 2.4 APG)—who missed a potential game-winner at the buzzer against Pittsburgh—can be deadly from long range when he’s on. Freshman F Tyler Lydon (10.1 PPG, 6.4 RPG) is also dangerous, and junior F Tyler Roberson (8.8 PPG, 8.0 RPG) led ‘Cuse in rebounds this season. The Orange went 4-9 SU (7-6 ATS) as underdogs this season and 3-1 SU (3-1 ATS) in neutral-site games. The total has gone OVER in six of Syracuse’s last eight games.