Syracuse vs. Indiana

Gavin Doty scored a season-best 18 points in Syracuse's 102-49 win over Central Connecticut State on Thursday. He played two seasons at Siena under Gerry McNamara, now Syracuse's first-year coach, and scored 991 points for him there. That shared history matters on a roster with nearly a dozen new players, and it showed in the opener, when the Orange scored the first 18 points against New Haven. Syracuse held New Haven to 7-of-27 shooting in the first half and forced eight turnovers in that half. Sadiq White Jr. is averaging 10.0 rebounds through two games. Indiana is 2-0 and has not trailed in 80 minutes. Its 92-69 win over 0-2 Bellarmine, an Atlantic Sun team, came with a 50-26 halftime lead, and Darren Harris made five threes after a slow start to the season. The Hoosiers rebuilt with eight transfers and four true freshmen under second-year coach Darian DeVries, so who closes tight games is an open question. My handicap lands on Syracuse on the spread tonight, facing an Indiana defense that DeVries said slipped after halftime against Bellarmine.