Syracuse Basketball: How to watch 'Cuse hosting Virginia Tech in critical ACC battle

Syracuse basketball will play its final regular-season game at the JMA Wireless Dome during the 2023-24 season on Tuesday night, when the Orange welcomes Virginia Tech to the Hill in a pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference clash.

The 'Cuse is winding down its regular season with this home affair versus the Hokies, followed by consecutive road contests against Louisville and then Clemson. Then comes the ACC Tournament next month in Washington, D.C.

The Orange has won two straight and four of its last six league meetings. Prior to games commencing this week in the ACC, the 'Cuse resided at No. 8 in the conference standings, while Virginia Tech checked in at No. 10.

Currently, both Syracuse basketball (18-10, 9-8 in the ACC) and the Hokies (15-12, 7-9 in the ACC) have a good amount of work to do if they want to hear their respective names called on Selection Sunday for an invite to this spring's NCAA Tournament.

How to watch Syracuse basketball versus Virginia Tech in the Orange's regular-season home finale.

The 'Cuse and the Hokies will go toe to toe beginning at 7 pm on Tuesday, Feb. 27, in Central New York, with ESPNU airing this conference contest. Coverage may also be available on fuboTV.

At the time of this writing, the Orange had an NCAA NET ranking of No. 84. Despite having a better overall record, the 'Cuse has a lower NET rating, as Virginia Tech stood at No. 57 when I penned this column.

Here is the Hokies' resume to date. Virginia Tech has defeated Coppin State, Campbell, Wofford, Boise State, Iowa State, Louisville, Valparaiso, Vermont, American University, Clemson, N.C. State, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Florida State and Virginia (by a whopping 34 points at home).

On the flip side, the Hokies have lost to South Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Auburn, Wake Forest, Florida State, Miami, Virginia, Duke, Miami again, Notre Dame, North Carolina and Pittsburgh.

Virginia Tech is a solid offensive group, currently residing within the top 50 nationally via KenPom in adjusted offensive efficiency. The Hokies, averaging about 74 points per game, connect on 46.0 percent from the field, 79.7 percent from the free-throw line, and 35.4 percent from beyond the arc.

As usual, this ACC encounter will be dictated in large part by the rebounding arena, in my humble opinion. Within the conference, Virginia Tech is No. 10 in rebounding margin, which isn't great. Yet Syracuse basketball sits at No. 15, or dead last in the league.

We'll have to see which Orange offense shows up. The one that shoots well from the field, buoyed by sophomore forward Chris Bell and others, or the one that really struggles to make shots. Given the 'Cuse is up and down with its shooting, Syracuse basketball throughout the 2023-24 stanza has been excellent at turning its opponents over and then converting those miscues into transition buckets.

Interestingly enough, so far this season, both the Orange and the Hokies average 11.3 turnovers per contest. Syracuse basketball is 12-7 in its all-time series with Virginia Tech, according to SU Athletics.

I've stated this several times lately. The 'Cuse, if it wants a realistic shot at reaching the 2024 Big Dance, has to defeat Virginia Tech and Louisville. The road game at Clemson is a wildcard. The Hokies aren't having a stellar 2023-24 term, but they have beaten a couple of high-quality foes.

After the Orange hosts Virginia Tech, Syracuse basketball will head to the KFC Yum! Center to face Louisville on Saturday, March 2. The tip-off is scheduled for 8 pm, with television coverage on the ACC Network.