Syracuse basketball, N.C. State both on the wrong side of bubble for now

Syracuse basketball has a record of 9-5 overall and 3-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference competition, yet the Orange really doesn’t own any bad losses to date in the 2020-21 campaign, save for blowing an 18-point advantage at home against Pittsburgh and falling by three points to the Panthers a few weeks ago.

The Orange’s other four setbacks are all on the road to solid opponents. So while the ‘Cuse doesn’t possess a ton of high-quality wins, its resume isn’t awful at this juncture, which is why Syracuse basketball is hanging around the proverbial bubble as it pertains to the 2021 March Madness.

The Orange will welcome N.C. State to the Carrier Dome on Sunday evening in a pivotal ACC clash for each squad. They are tied in conference games with identical 3-4 marks. And ‘Cuse and the Wolfpack are both presently on the outside looking in for invites to the Big Dance, according to the Bracket Matrix Web site.

For now, Syracuse basketball owns better NCAA Tournament metrics than N.C. State (7-5, 3-4). They each have a victory against a top-25 foe, but the Orange’s losses are better.

The ‘Cuse, all-time, is 7-6 versus the Wolfpack, however, N.C. State has captured three in a row over Syracuse basketball, according to orangehoops.org.

If the ‘Cuse wants to remain hovered around the Big Dance bubble, and build up some momentum, it cannot afford a setback in Central New York to the Wolfpack. It’s that plain and simple.

Syracuse basketball has to take care of business on the Hill versus N.C. State.

As of Saturday afternoon, the Orange checked in at No. 45 at kenpom.com, whereas the Wolfpack is No. 70. Through affairs on Jan. 29, N.C. State is No. 83 in the NCAA NET ratings, while the ‘Cuse is No. 52.

In no way, shape or form is the Wolfpack a sub-par squad, however, it would prove a somewhat bad loss if Syracuse basketball got knocked off by N.C. State on its own turf.

Speaking of that, the Orange brings an 8-1 home record into this ACC battle. Conversely, the Wolfpack is 0-4 on the road. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index says the ‘Cuse has a 67.7 percent chance to prevail.

On paper, Syracuse basketball is the favorite, but that really means nothing. The Orange has to lock in and get things done against fellow bubble squad N.C. State.