The Wait is Over: Syracuse vs. Duke Saturday Night

Syracuse vs. Duke
Game Details	Saturday, Feb. 1 \| Syracuse, N.Y. \| 6:30 p.m. \| Carrier Dome
Game Coverage	TV: ESPN/ESPN3 \| Radio: TK99 (99.5 FM), Syracuse IMG Radion Network Audio \| Live Stats Twitter: @cuse
Syracuse Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule
Duke Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The eyes of the college basketball world will be on the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Feb. 1 when No. 2/2 Syracuse hosts No. 17/16 at 6:30 p.m. It will be a historic night as an NCAA on-campus record crowd of 35,446 is expected. In addition, the Orange is going for its 21st consecutive victory to begin the season, which would be the best start in program history.

Fans are encouraged to arrive early and get to their seats for the singing of the National Anthem by Syracuse alum, Grammy and Tony Award winning superstar Vanessa Williams. Gates open at 4:30 p.m.

The game is part of ESPN's College GameDay, which will broadcast live from the Carrier Dome from 10 a.m – 12 p.m. and then again from 5:30-6:30. The game will be televised on ESPN. Fans not in attendance can listen to the action on the Syracuse IMG Radio Network and its flagship TK99 (99.5 FM). Live audio will be available on Orange All Access on SUathletics.com. Subscriptions to Orange All Access are available at daily, monthly and yearly rates.

PREGAME READING
What to Watch For – Syracuse (20-0, 7-0)
1. Syracuse is one of only three undefeated teams in Division I. The other two are Arizona and Wichita State. All three are in action on Saturday.
2. A win against the Blue Devils would give the Orange its best start in school history. Syracuse defeated Wake Forest on Wednesday for its 20th consecutive win to start the season, marking the second time SU has won its first 20 games of the campaign. The 2011-12 squad also started 20-0. The Orange finished that season with a record of 34-3 and advanced to the Elite Eight.
3. Freshman Tyler Ennis scored 16 of his team-high 18 points in the second half to lead Syracuse by Wake Forest. Ennis has done most of his scoring in the second half during Syracuse's past four games. He tallied nine of his 14 points after intermission at Miami, and scored 14 of his 16 points against Pittsburgh in the second half. At Boston College, Ennis had 10 points in the final 20 minutes, finishing with 12. He is the Orange's third-leading scorer this season, averaging 12.3 points per game.

What to Watch For – Duke (17-4, 6-2)
1. Duke defeated Pittsburgh on Monday for its fifth straight win. The Blue Devils are now 17-4 overall and 6-2 in ACC play.
2. Saturday's game will feature two of the top freshmen in the nation in SU's Tyler Ennis and Duke's Jabari Parker. Parker leads the Blue Devils and ranks second in the ACC in scoring with an 18.8 per game average. Rodney Hood (17.4 ppg.) and Quinn Cook (12.4 ppg.) also average double figures in scoring. Parker also leads Duke on the boards, averaging 8.1 per game, which ranks third in the ACC.
3. The game will feature the two most successful head coaches in Division I history. Mike Krzyzewksi and Jim Boeheim are both enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Krzyzewski has the most wins by any Division I coach with 974, while Boeheim ranks second with 940.

THE SERIES
Syracuse and Duke have split the four previous games between the two schools. The last meeting took place in the 1998 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Blue Devils defeated the Orange, 80-67. The squads also met in Greensboro, N.C. at the 1989-90 ACC-BIG EAST Challenge. Syracuse won that game, 78-76. The teams also met in 1966 and 1971.

UP NEXT…
Syracuse is back in action in the Carrier Dome on Monday, Feb. 3 when it hosts Notre Dame at 7 p.m.

Syracuse University Athletics

The Wait is Over: Syracuse vs. Duke Saturday Night

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