Syracuse basketball is set to play its first game during the 2024 ACC Tournament on Wednesday night in our nation’s capital against N.C. State, as the Orange looks to go on a run for its post-season resume.
The ‘Cuse (20-11, 11-9 in the ACC), under first-year head coach Adrian Autry, got to 20 victories in a regular season for the first time in a decade.
But while that’s a notable achievement, Syracuse basketball has a lot of work to do in this week’s ACC Tournament if it wants to hear its name called on Selection Sunday for this spring’s Big Dance.
That’s because in the 2023-24 regular season, the Orange didn’t have a great NCAA NET ranking. The ‘Cuse needs more quadrant-one successes.
The chatter from bracketologists is that Syracuse basketball has to capture the ACC Tournament crown to go dancing. I’m of the mindset that if the Orange gets to the event’s final game, maybe it could sneak into March Madness.
How to watch Syracuse basketball versus N.C. State in the ACC tourney.
The No. 7 seed ‘Cuse will battle the No. 10 seed Wolfpack (18-14, 9-11 in the ACC) in the ACC Tournament’s second round on Wednesday, March 13, beginning at 7 pm from the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., with television coverage on ESPN2. Coverage may also be available on fuboTV.
The stage is set.
— Syracuse Men’s Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) March 12, 2024
Orange vs. Pack, Wed at 7 PM on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/XWQRH4aTYd
On Tuesday in the ACC Tournament’s first round, N.C. State defeated the No. 15 seed Louisville, 94-85. That outcome snapped the Wolfpack’s four-contest setback streak.
In the triumph, N.C. State connected on 52.9 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from beyond the arc and 82.5 percent from the free-throw line. The Wolfpack generated 12 steals and forced Louisville into a whopping 16 turnovers.
Over the past few seasons, Syracuse basketball has owned N.C. State. The Orange has defeated the Wolfpack seven straight times and leads their all-time series together, 14-6.
In 2023-24, the ‘Cuse swept its two-game regular-season set with N.C. State. The Orange won at home in late January, 77-65, and then last month, Syracuse basketball conquered the Wolfpack on the road, 87-83.
Autry said in recent days that the ACC Tournament represents a new season for the ‘Cuse, and I agree with that.
The Orange fell in its regular-season finale at Clemson, but Syracuse basketball still has won four of its past five heading into the ACC tourney.
It’s been well-documented that the ‘Cuse has struggled in the ACC Tournament since joining that league from the Big East Conference in 2013-14.
However, as Autry said, this week’s event in D.C. is a new season for the Orange, and the team has a different head coach than in years past.
Let’s see if Syracuse basketball can get to 3-0 in 2023-24 against N.C. State to give the ‘Cuse some momentum heading into a possible quarterfinal match-up with No. 2 seed Duke.