Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.

Syracuse has failed to establish itself through its first eight games of Atlantic Coast Conference play. After an 0-3 start, the Orange rattled off back-to-back wins over Georgia Tech and then Boston College. However, a 24-point home loss to Louisville crushed any momentum.

SU defeated Notre Dame by completing a 17-point comeback, but another setback occurred days later. On the road against Clemson, the Orange failed to score across the final 4:54 of the first half. The scoring drought allowed the Tigers to jump out to a 48-29 halftime lead, finishing with a 14-point win.

Looking to jump back into the win column, Syracuse hosts Pittsburgh. The Panthers started the season at a scorching 12-2 but have recently dropped their last four games.

Here’s everything to know about Pitt (12-6, 3-4 ACC) ahead of its matchup with Syracuse (9-10, 3-5 ACC) Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome:

All time series

Syracuse leads 75-50.

Last time they played …

On Jan. 16, 2024, the Orange traveled to the Petersen Events Center looking for their first road ACC win of the season. SU defeated Pitt 81-73 just over two weeks prior. Led by 41 points between Judah Mintz, J.J. Starling and Chris Bell, the Orange swept the season series against the Panthers with a 69-58 win.

In the second half, Syracuse’s defense didn’t allow Pitt to score for over four minutes, building its lead in the process. Despite a then-career-high 20 points from freshman Jaland Lowe, the Panthers couldn’t overcome SU’s best 3-point shooting day of the season.

KenPom Odds

Syracuse has a 26% chance of winning, with a projected score of 80-73.

The Panthers report

In their seventh season under head coach Jeff Capel, the Panthers steamrolled nonconference competition but have hit some bumps in the road in conference play. A 9-2 nonconference record was filled with impressive wins over Ohio State and West Virginia. But a 3-4 start in the ACC currently puts them in the middle of the pack.

Pitt is averaging 80.4 points per game, the fourth-best total in the conference. The Panthers’ 47.3% mark from the field makes them one of the most efficient teams in the country. Their 36% 3-point percentage adds to the cause.

At the head of the snake is Lowe, who quickly became a catalyst against the Orange last season. In year two, he’s jumped into both a scoring and facilitating role, leading Pitt in both. Guard Ishmael Leggett is Lowe’s right-hand man, pouring in 16.6 points per game. After being the ACC Sixth Man of the Year last season, Leggett has started every game he’s played this year for the Panthers.

Alongside Lowe and Leggett is seven-footer Guillermo Diaz Graham. The forward has been key to any Pitt success over the last three seasons and has seen a larger role in his junior year with 17 starts and 22.7 minutes per game.

While the Panthers were hot outside of the conference and started 3-0 in ACC play, a four-game losing streak against Duke, Louisville, Florida State and Clemson has diminished their resume as of late, putting them in position for a much-needed win against Syracuse.

How Syracuse beats Pitt

The Orange can capture a bounceback victory by playing to their strength and Pitt’s weakness. Last week, Adrian Autry identified rebounding as one of SU’s top consistences. He’s right, as Syracuse averages 37.5 rebounds per game, ranking fifth in the ACC.

The Panthers, somewhat due to their offensive efficiency, rank slightly lower at 11th in the conference. Against Duke, Pitt was outrebounded 41-26, leading to a 76-47 loss. Jyáre Davis and Eddie Lampkin Jr. can exploit the Panthers’ weakness and possibly lead Syracuse to a win.

Stat to know: 79.1%

To put it simply, free throws matter. The Panthers have been elite from the charity stripe, notching a 79.1% through their 18 games. The mark is the best in the conference and nearly 10% higher than Syracuse’s 69.2%.

SU’s mark ranks 17-of-18 in the conference and has plagued it throughout the season. Even when players like Kyle Cuffe Jr. have gone 10-for-10 from the line against Notre Dame, the Orange have overall struggled, still going 21-for-34 in the contest. The battle at the free throw line could decide this one.

Player to watch: Jaland Lowe, guard, No. 15

In his sophomore campaign, Lowe has emerged as the focal point of the Panthers’ offense. The Missouri City, Texas, native began his college career with an impressive 9.6 points per game a season ago. He’s since exploded for 17.3 points per game this year, along with 5.7 assists, to rank fifth in the ACC.

Lowe’s been an exceptional scorer, notching 10 games with 18-plus points this year. However, his 3-point shooting at times makes him and Pitt struggle. Lowe is shooting just 28% from 3 thus far, making 26-of-93 attempts. Limiting Lowe gives the Orange a decent chance at claiming their third-straight win over the Panthers.

Published on January 24, 2025 at 5:41 pm

Contact Aiden at: amstepan@syr.edu | @AidenStepansky