Syracuse basketball (18-10 overall, 7-8 ACC) looks for a big upset road win to give its NCAA bubble chances a jolt when it visits the Duke Blue Devils (23-5, 11-4) on Saturday evening.
The game tips off at 6:15 p.m. at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina and will be televised on ESPN and the Watch ESPN app.
Syracuse enters the contest fresh off a 78-74 loss to the North Carolina Tar Heels Wednesday night at the Carrier Dome, before a crowd of 27,165 — the highest attendance for an on-campus college basketball game this season.
(Sponsored)
Future-Proof Your Hiring Strategy
Struggling to find the right talent — or keep it? You’re not alone. Across industries, employers are feeling the pressure of a widening skills gap, high turnover, and increasing competition
Ask the Expert: How Companies Can Future-Proof Their Workforce
In today’s landscape, workforce challenges are more pressing than ever. Across New York and beyond, companies are grappling with unfilled positions, skills gaps, and increasing turnover. These challenges can slow
Duke, ranked No. 5 in both polls and No. 4 in RPI, has won four straight games, including an 82-58 demolition of Louisville on Wednesday night.
What’s at stake for Syracuse?
The Orange have a chance to pick up their best win of the season and add another vital Quadrant 1 win, the highest classification of victory available under the NCAA selection committee’s new quadrant system of evaluating teams.
A loss would drop Syracuse two games under .500 in ACC play and probably make the Cuse’s last two games of the regular season (at Boston College, and home vs. Clemson) must wins for its NCAA bid hopes.
The Orange have won their last two meetings with the Blue Devils (64-62 in 2016 and 78-75 last year). Both times, Syracuse was also on the bubble and in need of a win.
Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com
Photos by Adam Rombel/ BJNN
