Syracuse Welcomes Pitt For The 125th Meeting

Game Details: Saturday, Dec. 30, Syracuse, N.Y., 12 p.m.
TV: The CW
Radio: Listen Live
Live Coverage: Stats
Twitter: @Cuse_MBB | @Cuse
Instagram: @cuse_mbb | @Cusepics
Facebook: Syracuse Orange
Syracuse Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule
Pitt Links: Notes | News | Roster | Schedule

Syracuse (9-3, 0-1 ACC) returns to conference action against Pitt (9-3, 0-1 ACC) in the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 12 p.m. The game marks the 125^th time the programs will meet on the hardwood.

SETTING THE STAGE
The Orange are on a four-game winning streak, led by sophomore guard Judah Mintz, who has averaged 22.3 point per game over the streak. The Orange have scored at least 80 points in each of the past four games and have averaged 81.8 points per game over that stretch.

The Panthers have also won their last four, most recently defeating Purdue-Fort Wayne at home, 62-48. Sophomore forward Guillermo Diaz Graham scored a team-leading 13 points against the Mastodons. Freshman guard Carlton Carrington and forward Zack Austin, a redshirt junior, each scored 12 in the outing.

THE SYRACUSE-PITT SERIES
Pittsburgh is Syracuse's most familiar foe in the ACC, and the third most repeated opponent in program history. The Orange lead the series, 74-50. The Panthers took the last matchup, 99-82, on Feb. 25, 2023. The last time Syracuse won against Pitt was on Jan. 11, 2022, when the Orange claimed a 77-61 victory.

LAST TIME OUT
Syracuse hosted New York adversary Niagara and stood victorious, 83-71. Sophomore center Maliq Brown achieved his first career double-double, scoring 15 points and logging 10 rebounds. Mintz had a team-leading 18 points in the contest. Sophomore swingman Quadir Copeland tallied 12 points and eight assists coming off the bench. It was Copeland's third consecutive double-figure scoring output.

ORANGE LEADERS
Mintz sits at fourth place in the ACC in points per game (19.75). He and Brown are tied at fourth in the ACC in steals per game, both averaging 2.17. Mintz also ranks among the top of Division I in free throw attempts (fifth, 101) and free throws made (sixth, 83). Sophomore forward Justin Taylor ranks first on the team in rebounds per game, averaging 5.8.

Sophomores guard J.J. Starling (12.1 ppg.) and forward Chris Bell (11.5) are averaging double-digit scoring this season.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Pitt is led by senior forward Blake Hinson (20.3 ppg.), who ranks third in the ACC in points per game. Freshman guard Carlton Carrington (13.8 ppg.) is second in the ACC with 63 assists, averaging 5.2 per game. Junior guard Ishmael Leggett (13.9 ppg.) averages a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game. Leggett has made 42-of-47 (.894) from the foul line this season.

SYRACUSE FANS CAN VOTE MINTZ FOR COUSY AWARD
Mintz is one of 20 watch-list candidates for the 2024 Bob Cousy Award, which is annually presented to the top point guard in Division I men's basketball. Orange followers are encouraged to participate in three rounds of Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, on hoophallawards.com.

Mintz is also on the watch list for the Naismith Trophy and John R. Wooden Award. Each list in comprised of 50 student-athletes. The lists for each award will be narrowed throughout the year, and winners of the awards will be announced later in the season.

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).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

J.J. Starling

Syracuse University Athletics