Syracuse basketball plays its third consecutive home game to start the 2024-25 season this Saturday, as the Orange welcomes Horizon League member Youngstown State to the Hill.
The 'Cuse is off to a 2-0 beginning to this young 2024-25 campaign, with the Orange defeating Le Moyne and then most recently, Colgate, by a combined six points.
While it's undeniable that Syracuse basketball has to work on its defense and its free-throw shooting, the 'Cuse has proven fairly solid on the boards, and let's not forget that of the team's 12 scholarship players, four are college transfers and three are incoming freshmen.
It may take some time for the Orange to cohesively gel, particularly on the defensive end. That being said, Syracuse basketball has numerous challenging non-conference duels lurking on the horizon, so the 'Cuse needs to up the ante sooner rather than later.
How to watch Syracuse basketball host Youngstown State.
The Orange and the Penguins will have their first-ever meeting this Saturday, Nov. 16, beginning at 1:00 pm at the JMA Wireless Dome. Fans who are unable to watch this non-conference clash in person can access the game via live streaming on the ACC Network Extra or ESPN+.
Youngstown State, which is located in Youngstown, Ohio, is 1-1 to date in 2024-25. Under first-year head coach Ethan Faulkner, the Penguins have defeated Chicago State and fallen to No. 21 Ohio State. Both of those contests were on the road.
In the Horizon League's preseason poll ahead of 2024-25, Youngstown State was projected to finish sixth in this conference. A term ago, the Penguins went 22-10 overall and 14-6 in Horizon League competition.
While it's only been two games, Syracuse basketball is averaging 80.0 points per affair but giving up a whopping 77.0 points per contest. Youngstown State is only averaging 63.5 points per game while allowing 70.5 points per encounter.
Both programs are off to sluggish starts as it relates to shooting from beyond the arc. So far, the Orange is connecting on just 26.7 percent from 3-point land, while the Penguins are making a paltry 19.5 percent from long range.
Assuming that the 'Cuse is able to knock off Youngstown State at the Dome, the Orange has some heavyweight non-conference battles coming up. On November 21 and November 22, Syracuse basketball will have two contests at the 2024 Legends Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y., with the Orange's first encounter against a good Texas group.
Early next month, on December 3, the 'Cuse will travel to top-10 Tennessee as part of the 2024 SEC/ACC Challenge.