SYRACUSE ORANGE (19-12)

vs. PITTSBURGH PANTHERS (20-10)

Verizon Center – Washington, D.C.
Tip-off: Wednesday, 12:00 p.m. ET
Line: N/A

Old Big East rivals Syracuse and Pittsburgh will look to firm up their NCAA tournament resumes when they square off in the second round of the ACC tournament on Wednesday.

Both the No. 9 seed Orange (19-12, 9-9 ACC) and No. 8 seed Panthers (20-10, 9-9 ACC) received first-round byes in the ACC tournament. Jim Boeheim’s squad, which missed the postseason last season due to a self-imposed ban, is a pretty safe bet to return to the Big Dance for the first time since 2014. The Panthers are, too, after getting knocked off by George Washington in the first round of the NIT last season. A win in this contest would certainly bolster both squads’ cases. Jamie Dixon’s team beat Syracuse in both their meetings this season, first on Dec. 30 (72-61) at the Petersen Events Center and then again on Feb. 20 (66-52) at the Carrier Dome. Pittsburgh covered the -7.5 spread in the first game, and the point total was UNDER 138.5 points. Pittsburgh covered the +2 spread in the second contest, and the point total was, again, UNDER 133.5. If Syracuse hopes to advance in this tournament, it will need to improve on the glass. Pitt outrebounded Syracuse 43-25 in its first meeting and 43-23 in its second. The total has gone UNDER in Pittsburgh’s last five games, while it has gone OVER in five of Syracuse’s last seven.

Syracuse is 15-15 ATS on the season, and is 3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS in neutral-site games. In 18 conference games, the Orange is 9-9 ATS. The Orange has struggled lately, losing four of five (2-3 ATS), including the defeat to Pitt in February. After a SU loss this season, Syracuse is 5-6 SU and ATS. After an ATS defeat, the Orange is 8-6 SU and 6-8 ATS. The boys from Central New York are led by senior forward and All-ACC Defensive Team selection Michael Gbinije (17.6 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.5 APG, 2.0 APG, 47% FG). If the Orange is to finally break through against Pittsburgh, it will need contributions from All-ACC Freshman Team selection Malachi Richardson (13.2 PPG, 2.2 APG), senior guard Trevor Cooney (12.9 PPG) and freshman forward Tyler Lydon (10.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 49% FG). Junior forward Tyler Roberson (9.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG), the team’s leading rebounder, will have to make an impact on the glass for ‘Cuse to have a chance. Cooney scored 15 points in the first meeting against Pittsburgh, while Gbinije and Roberson added 14 and 15, respectively. Roberson led the Orange in rebounds with just seven. In their second meeting, Lydon came off the bench to score 21 points in 31 minutes (8-12 FG). He didn’t get much help, as the only other ‘Cuse player to score in double figures was Gbinije, who scored 10 points. Richardson went 1-10 from the field in the loss.

Pittsburgh is just 12-15 ATS this season, and 2-0 SU and ATS in neutral locations. In conference play, the Panthers are 8-10 ATS. Since its win over Syracuse in February, Pittsburgh has lost three of four—and six of nine overall—and is just 2-5 ATS in its last seven. Pittsburgh has taken four of five from ‘Cuse dating back to 2014, and in five of the last six meetings between these teams, the total has gone UNDER. Pittsburgh gets most of its scoring from junior forward Michael Young (16.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 54% FG), who also leads the team in rebounds. The Panthers have two other double-figure scorers in junior forward Jamel Artis (14.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.0 APG, 47% FG) and senior guard James Robinson (10.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 5.1 APG). Junior forward Sheldon Jeter isn’t much of a scorer (8.1 PPG), but he’s very efficient (53% FG) and is a presence at 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds. In the December win over ‘Cuse, Artis scored 18 points and Young added 15. The team struggled from three-point range, finishing just 6-for-23. Artis was the leading scorer for Pitt again in the second win over Syracuse, finishing with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting and 11 rebounds. Young grabbed 13 boards and Robinson finished with 13 points.