Syracuse basketball returns to the JMA Wireless Dome after a two-game road swing in Atlantic Coast Conference competition, as the Orange will welcome Notre Dame to the Hill on Saturday afternoon.
In those two recent road contests, the 'Cuse (17-10, 8-8 in the ACC) went 1-1. Last Saturday, the Orange's offense went cold as the team suffered a bad loss at Georgia Tech by five points.
However, this past Tuesday night, sophomore forward Chris Bell and sophomore wing Quadir Copeland put forth massive performances, as the Orange won at N.C. State by four points.
At this juncture in the 2023-24 regular season, Syracuse basketball has four affairs left, two of which are at home, followed by the final pair away from Central New York. The Orange still has work to do to realistically enter the conversation for an invite to this spring's NCAA Tournament after a two-year absence.
By my estimation, the 'Cuse has to go 3-1, at a minimum, prior to the ACC Tournament kicking off next month in Washington, D.C., to merit significant consideration for the 2024 Big Dance. It all starts with a battle versus the Fighting Irish this Saturday.
How to watch Syracuse basketball against Notre Dame at the Dome.
The Orange and the Fighting Irish (10-16, 5-10 in the ACC) will go toe to toe beginning at 12 pm on Saturday, Feb. 24, with ESPN airing this conference clash. Coverage may also be available on fuboTV.
On Saturday, SU Athletics will celebrate the storied career of legendary Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim, who retired last March, giving way to first-year head coach Adrian Autry, Boeheim's former point guard and long-time assistant.
Coach Boeheim 🤝 Orange Nation
— Syracuse Men’s Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) February 22, 2024
Don't miss Jim Boeheim Day on Saturday when the Orange host Notre Dame at the JMA Dome!
🎟️ https://t.co/25DTNZ8pyI pic.twitter.com/l9KswEKN5o
Boeheim, one of the greatest head coaches in the history of college basketball, led the Syracuse basketball program for 47 years, amassing more than 1,000 career victories, a national championship in 2003, five trips to the Final Four, 35 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, and just one losing term.
It should prove an emotional and special day as Orange Nation honors Boeheim. But on the court, the 'Cuse must take care of business versus Notre Dame, a group that has struggled this stanza and also has a first-year head coach in former Penn State boss Micah Shrewsberry, who replaced long-time head coach Mike Brey.
This ACC meeting also pits the Fighting Irish versus one of its former players, sophomore guard J.J. Starling. The Central New York native, who has performed quite well in recent games, spent his freshman year at Notre Dame before transferring to Syracuse basketball this past off-season.
At the time of this writing, the Fighting Irish had an NCAA NET ranking of No. 143, making this a quadrant-three encounter for the 'Cuse, which owned a NET of No. 87. While beating Notre Dame at home doesn't move the needle for the Orange's potential post-season resume, Syracuse basketball can ill-afford to drop this game at the Dome.
To date, the Fighting Irish has beaten Niagara, Oklahoma State, Maryland Eastern Shore, Western Michigan, Marist, Virginia (by 22 points!), Georgia Tech twice, Virginia Tech and Louisville. Notre Dame has won three straight, by the way.
Conversely, the Fighting Irish has fallen to Western Carolina, Auburn, South Carolina, Miami, Marquette, Georgetown, The Citadel, N.C. State, Duke twice, Florida State, Boston College twice, Miami, Virginia and Pittsburgh.
To put it mildly, Notre Dame is a woeful team on offense, averaging just 62.3 points per game, which is last in the ACC. Yet on defense, the Fighting Irish allows about 10 fewer points per contest than Syracuse basketball.
As usual, to me, this affair will come down to rebounding and transition buckets, especially if the Orange is struggling to score in its half-court offensive sets. Notre Dame averages about 2.5 more boards per meeting than the 'Cuse, but the Fighting Irish also commits a ton of turnovers, at 13.0 per game.
Per orangehoops.org, Syracuse basketball is 33-23 versus Notre Dame in their all-time series together, and the Orange has won two in a row.
After the 'Cuse hosts the Fighting Irish, the Orange will play its final home game of the 2023-24 regular season when Virginia Tech comes to Central New York. This ACC battle is set for 7 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 27, with television coverage on ESPNU.