After having more than a week off, Syracuse basketball returns to the court on Wednesday night to face N.C. State in a battle of two teams hovering toward the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Conference standings so far during the 2024-25 season.
The Orange (11-16, 5-11 in the ACC) last suited up last Tuesday evening, when the 'Cuse raced out to a strong start at Pittsburgh but would ultimately fall to the Panthers by 11 points on the road.
Syracuse basketball has now lost three straight games. If the Orange can knock off the Wolfpack at the JMA Wireless Dome, that would prove huge as the 'Cuse looks to qualify for next month's ACC Tournament in Charlotte, N.C., where only the top 15 schools out of the league's 18 members will qualify for this annual event.
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The 2024-25 stanza, without question, has proven a big disappointment for Syracuse basketball and the 'Cuse fan base. However, if the Orange can rattle off a few victories to end the 2024-25 regular term, and perhaps win a game or two in Charlotte, that would provide a positive spark as the 'Cuse will then prepare to head into the off-season.
How to watch N.C. State at Syracuse basketball.
The Wolfpack (11-16, 4-12 in the ACC) and the Orange will go toe to toe in Central New York beginning at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 26, with ESPNU airing this ACC clash. Live-streaming coverage is also available on FuboTV.
Per SU Athletics, Syracuse basketball is 14-7 in its all-time series with N.C. State, although in mid-March of last year, the Wolfpack beat the 'Cuse, 83-65, in the ACC Tournament's second round from Washington, D.C., dashing any hope that the Orange would go dancing in the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
N.C. State, a post-season darling a stanza ago, would ultimately win the 2024 ACC Tournament and then journey to the Final Four of last year's Big Dance. This season, though, has proven a struggle for the Wolfpack.
To date in 2024-25, N.C. State has defeated South Carolina Upstate, Presbyterian, Coastal Carolina, Colgate, William & Mary, Florida State, Coppin State, Rider, Notre Dame, Boston College and Wake Forest. On the flip side, the Wolfpack has lost to Purdue, BYU, Texas, Kansas, Virginia, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, California, SMU, Duke, Clemson, California, Stanford, Louisville and North Carolina.
Dating back to January, the Wolfpack had dropped nine affairs in a row, but more recently, N.C. State has prevailed in two of its last three encounters, including a home victory over Wake Forest, one of the ACC's better squads so far in 2024-25, on February 22.
When I penned this column, Syracuse basketball had an NCAA NET ranking of No. 146 overall, as compared to No. 119 for N.C. State, making this a quadrant-three contest for the Orange.
'Cuse freshman power forward Donnie Freeman is out for the rest of this season due to a lower right-leg injury. Fellow freshman Elijah Moore, a shooting guard, missed the Pittsburgh game because of a right leg injury. Let's see if Moore suits up versus N.C. State.
The Wolfpack scores 70.2 points per meeting and allows 69.9 points, along with 32.1 rebounds, 12.6 assists, 3.9 blocks, 6.6 steals and 9.4 turnovers. The Orange averages 74.7 points per contest and gives up 78.6 points, along with 37.8 rebounds, 13.5 assists, 2.6 blocks, 4.9 steals and 12.4 turnovers.
N.C. State makes 43.2 percent from the field, 71.7 percent from the free-throw line and 32.1 percent from beyond the arc. Syracuse basketball connects on 44.9 percent from the field, 70.5 percent from the charity stripe and 32.7 percent from 3-point range.