Syracuse basketball will play its final true road game of the 2024-25 season this Tuesday night in Dallas against SMU, a squad that has proven one of the Atlantic Coast Conference's most pleasant surprises this term.
The Orange, this past Saturday in Blacksburg, Va., had a 13-point edge in the second half against Virginia Tech, but the 'Cuse played poor defense and committed way too many turnovers in that second 20 minutes. This ACC clash would head to overtime, where Syracuse basketball lost by six points.
Now the Orange will travel to the Mustangs before hosting Virginia on Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome in the regular-season finale. The 'Cuse has qualified for this month's ACC Tournament in Charlotte, N.C., although unless Syracuse basketball goes on a run to close out 2024-25, the Orange is likely to finish with a losing record for the second time over the past four stanzas.
As far as I can tell, the 'Cuse and SMU have never faced one another.
How to watch Syracuse basketball at SMU on Tuesday evening.
The Orange (12-17, 6-12 in the ACC) and the Mustangs (21-8, 12-6 in the ACC) will battle beginning at 9 pm EST on Tuesday, March 4, at the Moody Coliseum in Dallas. ESPNU will air this match-up, with live-streaming coverage also available on FuboTV.
SMU is in its first year as an ACC member, along with California and Stanford, and the Mustangs haven't disappointed in the least. Picked in the league's preseason media poll to finish at No. 13 in the conference, SMU is currently in a three-way tie for fourth place in the ACC standings.
According to the Bracket Matrix Web site, the Mustangs are hovering around the bubble for a possible invite to this spring's NCAA Tournament. When I wrote this article, Syracuse basketball had an NCAA NET ranking of No. 145 overall, as compared to No. 41 for SMU, making this a quadrant-one opportunity for the Orange, where the team is 0-8 at this juncture in 2024-25.
So far in 2024-25, the Mustangs have defeated Tarleton State, Florida A&M, UNC Greensboro, Prairie View A&M, California Baptist, Washington State, Alabama State, Virginia, LSU, Boston College, Longwood, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Miami, N.C. State, California, Stanford, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and California.
Conversely, SMU has lost to Butler, Mississippi State, Duke, North Carolina, Louisville, Wake Forest, Clemson and Stanford.
The Orange scores 75.4 points per game and allows 78.8 points, along with 37.6 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 2.5 blocks, 4.9 steals and 12.4 turnovers. The Mustangs score 81.7 points per contest and allow 71.9 points, along with 39.3 rebounds, 16.0 assists, 3.7 blocks, 7.8 steals and 12.0 turnovers.
Syracuse basketball makes 45.6 percent from the field, 70.6 percent from the free-throw line and 32.9 percent from beyond the arc. SMU hits 48.2 percent from the field, 72.9 percent from the charity stripe and 38.4 percent from 3-point land.
On Tuesday, the 'Cuse will try to notch its third road victory this campaign, having previously defeated Boston College and Cal on the road. In 2024-25, Syracuse basketball is 2-8 in true road affairs.