Syracuse basketball, which has lost two straight, looks to get back into the win column when it heads to a long-time rival that has also struggled of late.
The Orange, this past Saturday night, hung close with North Carolina but ultimately lost by six points, as the Tar Heels were especially proficient from beyond the arc. Earlier last week, Syracuse basketball fell at Miami, one of the worst teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference during the 2024-25 season.
In recent conference clashes, offensive hasn't proven an issue for the 'Cuse, but the squad's defense is hovering near the bottom of the ACC at this juncture in the current campaign.
Now Syracuse basketball will prepare to play at Pittsburgh later this week. The Panthers, late last month, scored a four-point road victory over the Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome.
How to watch Syracuse basketball at Pittsburgh.
Long-time rivals Pitt and the 'Cuse will go toe-to-toe beginning at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the Petersen Events Center. The ACC Network will televise this league affair, with live-streaming coverage also available on FuboTV.
Per SU Athletics, Syracuse basketball is 75-51 in its all-time series with the Panthers. Pittsburgh had been looking like a solid contender for a possible berth to this spring's NCAA Tournament, but the Panthers had lost four straight before triumphing over Miami at home this past weekend.
At the time of this writing, the Orange had an NCAA NET ranking of No. 149, as compared to No. 51 for Pitt, making this a quadrant-one opportunity for the 'Cuse. To date in 2024-25, Syracuse basketball is 0-7 in quadrant-one games.
Statistically speaking, the Orange scores 74.9 points per contest and allows 78.6 points, along with 38.0 rebounds, 13.4 assists, 2.7 blocks, 4.8 steals and 12.4 turnovers. Pittsburgh averages 77.2 points per game and gives up 71.1 points, along with 33.8 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 4.5 blocks, 7.2 steals and 9.8 turnovers.
Shooting-wise, Syracuse basketball makes 45.1 percent from the field, 70.3 percent from the free-throw line and 32.0 percent from 3-point land. The Panthers connect on 45.7 percent from the field, an ACC-leading 79.1 percent from the charity stripe and 35.3 percent from the perimeter.
I don't have a lot of confidence that the Orange, which is just 2-6 on the road this season, will prevail at Pittsburgh. Then again, the Panthers haven't been all that stellar lately, so perhaps Syracuse basketball can sneak out a third success on the road this Tuesday evening.