Syracuse basketball, which has lost three of its last four games, returns to New York City this Saturday afternoon to face Big Ten Conference member Maryland in a non-conference collision.
The Orange has had this week to regroup and prepare for its game against the Terrapins. Last Saturday, at the JMA Wireless Dome, the 'Cuse went cold from the field in the final minutes, and Syracuse basketball ended up falling to former long-time Big East Conference rival Georgetown by a final of 75-71.
So far in the 2024-25 season, the Orange (5-5 overall) has yet to defeat a foe from a power conference. By extension, four of the squad's five setbacks have been decided by five points or fewer.
Certainly, junior guard J.J. Starling, the team's leading scorer in 2024-25, being out indefinitely due to an injury is a big challenge for the 'Cuse to overcome. Yet from my perspective, the Orange's relatively lackluster defense, poor long-range shooting and inability to win close contests, among other things, are really hurting Syracuse basketball.
How to watch Syracuse basketball face Maryland in the Big Apple.
The 'Cuse and the Terrapins (9-2 overall) are scheduled to tip off in the 2024 Gotham Classic at 12 pm on Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., with ESPN providing television coverage. The Barclays Center is familiar territory for the Orange in 2024-25.
Last month, at the 2024 Legends Classic from the Barclays Center, Syracuse basketball fell by a combined nine points to Texas and Texas Tech. Naturally, the 'Cuse is hoping for a different result in Brooklyn this Saturday.
According to Maryland's athletics department Web site, in their all-time series together, the Terrapins are 5-4 against the Orange, although Syracuse basketball has captured the past four meetings, including a 72-70 home victory over Maryland back in late November of 2017.
To date in 2024-25, the Terrapins own wins over Manhattan, Mount St. Mary's, Florida A&M, Canisius, Villanova, Bucknell, Alcorn State, Ohio State and St. Francis (Pa.). On the flip side, Maryland has fallen to a pair of ranked opponents in Marquette and Purdue.
In the latest Associated Press and Coaches top-25 polls, the Terrapins are receiving votes in each ballot. Maryland was forecast to finish at No. 10 in the Big Ten standings this term, per that league's preseason media poll.
When I wrote this column on Wednesday, Syracuse basketball had an NCAA NET ranking of No. 138 overall, while the Terrapins checked in at No. 9, making this a coveted quadrant-one chance for the Orange. The 'Cuse, candidly, could use a marquee triumph for its resume, and so could the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Let's look at some stats via the ESPN Web site. In 2024-25, the Orange is averaging 79.3 points per game while giving up 79.5 points, along with 38.7 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 2.8 blocks, 4.0 steals and 10.3 turnovers.
Maryland is scoring 87.8 points per contest while allowing just 60.7 points. The Terrapins, per game, also average 40.0 rebounds, 15.9 assists, 4.5 blocks, 7.7 steals and 9.3 turnovers.
Maryland is clearly a better shooting group. The Terrapins connect on 50.3 percent from the field, 73.6 percent from the free-throw line and 36.4 percent from beyond the arc. Syracuse basketball makes 46.8 percent from the field, 69.8 percent from the charity stripe and 27.1 percent from 3-point land.
In 2024-25, Maryland's leading scorer is freshman center Derik Queen, a 2024 five-star prospect who held a scholarship offer from the Orange staff while in high school. Queen has been terrific in college so far, averaging 17.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.1 blocks per affair while hitting on 61.3 percent from the field and 77.8 percent from the free-throw line.
The Syracuse basketball front-court will have its hands full with Queen on Saturday in Brooklyn.