How to watch and key storylines as Syracuse basketball travels to No. 7 Tennessee

Syracuse basketball will look to end a three-game skid against another Orange-clad school when the 'Cuse heads to No. 7 Tennessee on Tuesday night as part of this season's SEC/ACC Challenge.

The Orange (4-2) most recently defeated long-time local foe Cornell, at the JMA Wireless Dome, by 10 points last Wednesday evening. The 'Cuse fell behind early against the Big Red but managed to come away with an 82-72 triumph, buoyed by impressive performances from freshmen Donnie Freeman, a 2024 five-star power forward, and Elijah Moore, a 2024 four-star shooting guard.

To date in the young 2024-25 campaign, every one of the Orange's contests has been decided by 10 points or fewer. It will be interesting to see what the rotation entails for head coach Adrian Autry versus the Volunteers (7-0), given the comments he made after the 'Cuse beat Cornell.

In their short all-time series together, Tennessee is 4-3 against Syracuse basketball and has won three straight, including a 73-56 decision in November of last year at the Allstate Maui Invitational in Honolulu.

How to watch Syracuse basketball at No. 7 Tennessee.

The Orange will compete against the Volunteers on Tuesday, Dec. 3, with the tip-off scheduled for 7:30 pm at the Thompson Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn. ESPN will provide television coverage.

Tennessee, in 2023-24, went 27-9 overall and reached the Elite Eight of this past spring's NCAA Tournament, falling to eventual national runner-up Purdue. Ahead of 2024-25, the Volunteers were forecast to finish at No. 3 in the Southeastern Conference, according to that league's preseason media poll.

So far this term, Tennessee has defeated Gardner-Webb, Louisville, Montana, Austin Peay, Virginia, then-No. 13 Baylor and UT Martin. By the way, I want to send some positive vibes to former Syracuse basketball recruit J.P. Estrella, a sophomore big man for the Volunteers who is out for the 2024-25 stanza due to an injury.

Tennessee will test the 'Cuse on both ends of the floor. The Volunteers, currently, are scoring 81.6 points per game while connecting on 52.3 percent from the field, 38.0 percent from beyond the arc and 74.2 percent from the free-throw line.

On defense, Tennessee allows just 54.7 points per contest, which when I wrote this column was No. 2 around the country, according to the NCAA's Web site. That could prove problematic for a Syracuse basketball team that, yes, is averaging 81.0 points per affair but only making 44.5 percent from the field, 27.0 percent from 3-point land and 69.2 percent from the charity stripe.

Two facets where the 'Cuse does hold edges in this non-conference collision are in the turnover arena and on the boards. Tennessee commits 12.6 turnovers per game, as compared to 9.7 for the Orange.

On the glass, Syracuse basketball averages 43.0 rebounds per contest. The Volunteers corral 38.6 boards per encounter.