Syracuse men’s basketball (15-7 overall, 4-5 ACC) will go after a big upset win on Saturday afternoon when it hosts the 2nd ranked Virginia Cavaliers (21-1, 10-0).
The game tips off at 4 p.m. at the Carrier Dome and will be televised on ACC Network affiliate stations. Evan Lepler and Brian Oliver will be the announcers. In the Syracuse market, the game will be shown on WSTM NBC Channel 3.
Syracuse has sold more than 26,000 tickets for the game, according to Anthony Di Fino, the university’s associate athletic director for business development.
In other Central New York markets, the contest will be available on the following TV stations, according to the ACC:
- Binghamton: WBPN (My 8)
- Elmira: WJKP-TV Twin Tiers
- Utica: WPNY-LP Channel 11
- Watertown: WWTI ABC 50
Elsewhere in upstate New York, viewers can see the Cavs-Orange game on these TV stations:
- Albany: WNYA (My 4)
- Buffalo: WNLO CW 23
- Rochester: WHAM-D2 (CW WHAM)
Syracuse is coming off a disappointing 55-51 loss at Georgia Tech Wednesday night, which snapped a three-game winning streak for the Orange. The defeat was compounded by the news that head coach Jim Boeheim revealed after the game. He said freshman reserve guard Howard Washington, who injured his right leg in practice on Monday and missed the game in Atlanta, will be out for the rest of the season.
Boeheim indicated that Orange walk-on guard Braedon Bayer, who is now on scholarship, would likely play some in the Virginia game and at Louisville Monday night in relief of starting guards Frank Howard and Tyus Battle. Syracuse has no other backup guards on scholarship, following Washington’s injury and the departure of Geno Thorpe earlier this season (the graduate transfer left for personal reasons after only 6 games with the team).
What’s at stake for Syracuse?
Orange NCAA Tournament chances took a hit with the loss at 10-11 Georgia Tech. A win over the Hoos’ would go a long way to getting the Cuse back on the right side of the NCAA bubble.
This is the second meeting between Syracuse and Virginia this season. The Cavaliers hosted the first contest on Jan. 9 and came away with a 68-61 triumph at John Paul Jones Arena.
The Orange, however, did beat Virginia 66-62 when the teams faced off at the Carrier Dome last season, on Feb. 4. The Cavs were ranked No. 9 at the time.
Contact Rombel at arombel@cnybj.com
Photos by Adam Rombel/ BJNN