Syracuse basketball faced a challenging week, suffering back-to-back losses against two top-25 teams on the road. Looking to rebound, the Orange returns to the JMA Wireless Dome this week, where they will host California and SMU, with the match against the Golden Bears set for Wednesday evening and the game against SMU on Saturday afternoon.
The first test will be against California, featuring former Syracuse small forward Chris Bell. Now in his senior season at Cal, Bell has been performing admirably, averaging 13.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game, while showcasing impressive shooting stats: 44.0 percent from the field, 35.9 percent from three-point range, and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line.
Syracuse holds a favorable 4-1 all-time record against California, having won their last encounter by nine points. The Orange also defeated the Golden Bears during the 2013 NCAA Tournament’s second round, helping propel Syracuse to a Final Four appearance.
As Syracuse prepares for this significant matchup, the team, with a record of 13-11 (4-7 in the ACC), will look to find their footing against a California squad that currently boasts a 17-7 record (5-6 in the ACC). The game is set to tip off at 7:00 pm EST on February 11 and will be broadcast on ESPNU.
The Golden Bears have managed to secure victories over teams such as UCLA, Notre Dame, and North Carolina, while suffering defeats against opponents like Kansas State and Virginia Tech. California ranks 58th in the NCAA NET standings, while Syracuse sits at 71, making this matchup a pivotal quadrant-two game for the Orange.
Offensively, California averages 77.8 points per game and allows 71.5 points, while Syracuse scores slightly less at 75.1 points, with a defensive average of 70.8 points allowed. Notable stats for California include 34.6 rebounds and 13.8 assists per game, and for Syracuse, they average 34.7 rebounds and 13.1 assists. A particular point of interest will be the teams’ three-point shooting capabilities, with Cal ranked 34th nationally in this category, contrasted by Syracuse’s defensive rank of 111th.
Both teams have much to gain from this match, setting the stage for an exciting encounter that could influence their ACC standings as the season progresses.