After a rough loss at Boston College over the weekend, Syracuse basketball returns to Central New York to host Virginia Tech on Wednesday night.
The Orange has to put that eight-point setback at the Eagles in its rear-view mirror, because Syracuse basketball has some tougher games coming up, and along with that will be chances for the 'Cuse to improve its potential post-season resume.
On Tuesday morning, Virginia Tech (14-5 overall, 3-3 in the ACC) had an NCAA NET ranking of No. 54, making this a quadrant-two opportunity for Syracuse basketball (12-6 overall, 3-2 in the ACC), which sits at No. 74 in the NET.
There's no other way to slice it: The Orange's losses to Hofstra and Boston College sting. Yet if the 'Cuse can pile up some Atlantic Coast Conference victories in quadrants one and two, then perhaps Syracuse basketball can work its way into the conversation for a possible at-large invite to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
The Orange has a lot of work to do. A lot. And it starts on Wednesday against the Hokies.
How to watch Virginia Tech at Syracuse basketball.
The Hokies and the 'Cuse are scheduled to tip off at 9:00 pm EST on Wednesday, Jan. 21, with television coverage on the ACC Network. In their all-time series together, per SU Athletics, the Orange is 13-8 against Virginia Tech.
So far in the 2025-26 season, the Hokies have triumphs over Charleston Southern, Providence, Saint Joseph's, Charlotte, Bryant, Colorado State, South Carolina, George Mason, Western Carolina, Maryland Eastern Shore, Elon, Virginia, California and Notre Dame. Virginia Tech has fallen to Saint Mary's, VCU, Wake Forest, Stanford and SMU.
The Hokies score 82.3 points per game and allow 74.1 points. They average 36.6 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 7.1 steals, 3.6 blocks and 10.3 turnovers per contest while making 45.8 percent from the field, 72.5 percent from the free-throw line and 34.6 percent from beyond the arc.
Syracuse basketball, conversely, scores 75.7 points per affair and gives up 67.7 points. The Orange averages 36.1 rebounds, 13.4 assists, 6.6 steals, 6.6 blocks and 11.8 turnovers per game while connecting on 47.3 percent from the field, 62.8 percent from the charity stripe and 33.2 percent from downtown.
Over at KenPom, Virginia Tech is No. 57 overall, No. 71 in adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 60 in adjusted defensive efficiency. Syracuse basketball is No. 68 overall at KenPom, No. 97 in adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 54 in adjusted defensive efficiency.
The Hokies are a quality foe. The 'Cuse must take better care of the ball than it did in the defeat at Boston College, and Syracuse basketball also has to get more production from its bench on Wednesday night at the Dome.