Syracuse Meets Hokies In Blacksburg

Game Details: Saturday, Jan. 28, Blacksburg, Va., 7:00 p.m.
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Syracuse (13-8, 6-4) heads down to Blacksburg, Va. for its second pairing of the season against Virginia Tech 12-8, 2-7) on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 7:00 p.m.

SETTING THE STAGE
The Orange look to stay above .500 in the month of January with a 4-3 record dating back to a 70-69 road victory at Louisville on Jan. 3. Virginia Tech is hoping to carry some momentum into Saturday's contest after an exciting three-point victory against Duke, which snapped the Hokies seven-game losing streak.

SYRACUSE-VIRGINIA TECH SERIES
SU holds a 12-6 advantage in the all-time series against the Hokies that spans back to the 1975-76 season. The Orange have won three of the last four contests and both squads have evenly split all eight clashes in Blacksburg. SU has not beaten Virginia Tech inside Cassell Coliseum since Jan. 18, 2020 (71-69). Syracuse looks to sweep the season series after defeating Virginia Tech 82-72 at home on Jan. 11.

LAST TIME OUT
The Orange narrowly lost, 72-68, to North Carolina on Tuesday night. Senior guard Joseph Girard III led Syracuse with 18 points. Freshman guard Judah Mintz (17 points) and freshman forward Chris Bell (15 points) joined Girard in double figures.

ORANGE LEADERS
Girard has done most of the heavy lifting on offense, averaging a team-high 17.5 points per game which is good for 5th best in the ACC. Mintz (15.0 ppg.) has the second-highest scoring average on the squad, and his 43 steals slots him atop the ACC. Senior center Jesse Edwards (13.6 ppg.) averages a double-double with a team-best 10.6 rebounds per game. Edward's 2.9 blocks per contest cements him as the league's best shot blocker.

SCOUTING THE HOKIES
Sophomore guard Sean Pedulla (16.0 ppg.) is the playmaker on the offensive end for Virginia Tech with a team-high 4.3 assists per contest. Graduate transfer Grant Basile is riding a hot streak over the last four games, averaging 18.8 points and 7.0 rebounds. Senior Forward Justyn Mutts is the Hokies' leading rebounder, grabbing 7.4 boards per game.

SUITS AND SNEAKERS WEEK
The American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer "Suits And Sneakers Week" is scheduled for Jan. 23-29. The nationwide, annual event helps bring attention to the ongoing fight against cancer. Basketball coaches and players at the collegiate and scholastic levels joined in supporting the initiative. The Syracuse coaching staff is participating again this season. Coach Jim Boeheim and his staff will wear specially designed Suits and Sneakers apparel during the North Carolina game on Jan. 24 and at Virginia Tech on Jan. 28. Additional information is available at coachesvscancer.org.

'CUSE FANS CAN VOTE FOR GIRARD
Senior Joseph Girard III is one of 20 players named to the 2023 Jerry West Award watch list, annually presented to the top shooting guard in Division I college basketball. Orange fans are encouraged to participate in Fan Voting for the three rounds. The list will be narrowed down to 10 in January, five in February, and the five finalists will be presented to Jerry West and the Hall of Fame's selection committee where a winner will be selected in March. Fans can vote for Girard at hoophallawards.com.

MCNAMARA AND WARRICK JERSEY RETIREMENT
Twenty years after playing a major role in Syracuse's first NCAA Basketball Championship, Gerry McNamara '06 and Hakim Warrick '05 will have their Orange jerseys hoisted to the Dome rafters. The jersey retirements will take place on Sunday, March 4 when Syracuse hosts Wake Forest at 5:00 p.m. in the JMA Wireless Dome.

51ST HARDWOOD CLUB BANQUET TO HONOR WARRICK
Warrick will be honored with The Vic Hanson Medal of Excellence at the 51st Syracuse University Men's Basketball Hardwood Banquet on Sunday, Mar. 5th. The honor is bestowed on an individual or individuals who have ties to the men's basketball program and have made outstanding contributions to college basketball. Tickets are $100 per person and $1,000 per table of 10. Proceeds benefit the Conrad McRae Endowed Men's Basketball Scholarship and the men's basketball program. To reserve seats for the Hardwood Banquet, register online at cc.syr.edu/hardwoodclub or contact the 'Cuse Athletic Fund by phone (315-443-1419). The registration deadline is February 26.

20TH ANNIVERSARY OF '03 CHAMPIONSHIP
Syracuse University Athletics will celebrate the 20^th Anniversary of the men's basketball program's 2003 NCAA Championship throughout the 2022-23 season, culminating with a reunion at the March 4 contest with Wake Forest. Members of the 2002-03 national title team have been invited to return to Syracuse for planned activities the weekend of March 3-5, 2023. The Orange are scheduled to host Wake Forest on Saturday, March 4, in the final regular-season contest of the campaign. Those from the 2002-03 squad who can return, will be recognized at the game.

TICKETS
Syracuse men's basketball tickets are available online (cuse.com/tickets), by phone (1-888-DOMETIX), and at the Dome Box Office (Gate B).

For complete coverage of Syracuse men's basketball, follow the team on Twitter (@Cuse_MBB) and Instagram (@cuse_mbb).

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Players Mentioned

Chris Bell

Jesse Edwards

Joseph Girard III

Judah Mintz

Hakim Warrick

Syracuse University Athletics