Syracuse basketball heads to the Sunshine State on Saturday night in search of three key things.
The Orange, which has lost five of its past seven games amid the team's leading scorer, J.J. Starling, being out due to an injury, has yet to defeat a foe from a power conference so far in the 2024-25 season.
The 'Cuse is also winless to date in Atlantic Coast Conference competition. Finally, Syracuse basketball has yet to prevail in a contest on the road.
Most recently, this past Tuesday afternoon on New Year's Eve, the Orange stormed back from a 16-point, first-half deficit to Wake Forest at the JMA Wireless Dome. The 'Cuse even grabbed a six-point advantage in the second half but faltered down the stretch, ultimately losing to the Demon Deacons, 81-71.
How to watch Syracuse basketball at Florida State on Saturday.
The Orange (6-7, 0-2 in the ACC) will face Florida State (9-4, 0-2 in the ACC) on Saturday, Jan. 4, with the tip-off scheduled for 6 pm from the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, Fla. The ACC Network will televise this conference clash.
The Seminoles, most recently, lost at home to Louisville by a final count of 90-76 on Saturday, Dec. 21. Florida State has lost three of its last five encounters.
FSU's entire 2024-25 resume to date includes wins over Northern Kentucky, Rice, Tarleton State, Hofstra, Temple, Massachusetts, Western Carolina, Tulane and Winthrop. The Seminoles' setbacks are to Florida, LSU, N.C. State and Louisville.
Florida State, by the way, was projected to finish at No. 15 in the ACC standings during 2024-25, according to the league's preseason media poll. FSU's long-time head coach is Leonard Hamilton, who has been in the news lately regarding a lawsuit filed against him by former players over name, image and likeness deals.
Per SU Athletics, in their all-time series together, Syracuse basketball is 10-7 versus the Seminoles. In their last battle, Florida State conquered the Orange, 85-69, at the Dome in January of 2024.
When I wrote this piece, the 'Cuse had an NCAA NET ranking of No. 155 overall, while FSU checked in at No. 81, making this a quadrant-two opportunity for Syracuse basketball.
Statistically, the Orange is averaging 76.8 points on offense, 78.9 points on defense, 38.8 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 2.7 blocks, 4.8 steals and 12.5 turnovers per game. Florida State averages 78.2 points on offense, 69.2 points on defense, 34.6 rebounds, 13.8 assists, 5.2 blocks, 9.2 steals and 13.2 turnovers per contest.
From a shooting perspective, Syracuse basketball makes 45.9 percent from the field, 69.9 percent from the free-throw line and 28.5 percent from beyond the arc. Conversely, the Seminoles connect on 46.6 percent from the field, 70.8 percent from the charity stripe and 32.6 percent from 3-point land.