Syracuse basketball went 0-2 last week while playing a pair of top-25 teams on the road. This week, the Orange returns to the JMA Wireless Dome to host California and SMU on Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon, respectively.
Up first, the 'Cuse will face the Golden Bears and former Syracuse basketball small forward Chris Bell, who is spending his senior season at Cal and playing well. Bell, who played three years on the Hill, is averaging 13.0 points per game in the 2025-26 campaign, along with 2.7 rebounds, while making 44.0 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from beyond the arc and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line.
In their short all-time series together, the 'Cuse is 4-1 against the Golden Bears, according to SU Athletics. Syracuse basketball won at Cal by nine points last season, and the Orange also defeated the Golden Bears in the 2013 NCAA Tournament's second round, 66-60, on its way to a Final Four journey.
How to watch California at Syracuse basketball on Wednesday night.
The 'Cuse (13-11 overall, 4-7 in ACC) and the Golden Bears (17-7 overall, 5-6 in ACC) are scheduled to tip off at 7:00 pm EST on February 11 at the Dome, with television coverage on ESPNU.
To date in 2025-26, California has victories over Cal State Bakersfield, Wright State, Cal State Fullerton, Presbyterian, Sacramento State, UCLA, Utah, Pacific, Dominican University of California, Northwestern State, Morgan State, Columbia, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Stanford, Miami and Georgia Tech.
The Golden Bears have fallen to Kansas State, Louisville, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Duke, Florida State and Clemson. At the time of this writing, Cal had an NCAA NET ranking of No. 58 overall, making this a quadrant-two game for the Orange, which has a NET of No. 71. Over at KenPom, the Golden Bears are No. 69, while Syracuse basketball is No. 70.
California scores 77.8 points per contest and allows 71.5 points. The Golden Bears average 34.6 rebounds, 13.8 assists, 5.8 steals, 3.3 blocks and 10.2 turnovers per encounter while connecting on 44.6 percent from the field, 78.5 percent from the charity stripe and 37.3 percent from 3-point land.
Conversely, the Orange scores 75.1 points per game and gives up 70.8 points. The 'Cuse averages 34.7 rebounds, 13.1 assists, 6.7 steals, 6.1 blocks and 11.3 turnovers per contest while hitting on 47.1 percent from the field, 63.6 percent from the free-throw line and 33.5 percent from long range.
In this Atlantic Coast Conference clash, keep an eye on the perimeter. Cal's 3-point shooting percentage is No. 34 nationally, and Syracuse basketball's 3-point shooting percentage defense, at 32.2, is just No. 111 around the country.