Syracuse vs SMU: ACC Tournament Showdown

0:00On March 9, Syracuse Basketball faces Southern Methodist University in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina. The orange enter as the number 14 seed with a 15 and 16 overall record and 6 and 12 in conference play. The Mustangs hold the number 11 seed at 19 and 12 overall and 8 and 10 in the ACC. Tip-off is set for 4.30pm Eastern Time on March 10. Both teams head into this matchup on Skiz with Syracuse dropping his last 5 games and SMU losing 4 straight. The orange pulled out a close 79-78 win over the Mustangs at home, back on February 14, though SMU leads their short. Series 2 games to 1. This rematch carries big stakes, especially for Syracuse chasing a spot in the NCAA tournament. Syracuse has struggled in the ACC tournament since joining the league over a decade ago. Never advancing past the second round, a win here at Spectrum Center could punch their ticket to the big dance for the first time since 2021, while SMU sits right on the bubble and needs the victory to solidify its resume.

1:09Statistically, the Mustangs boast a potent offense, averaging 85 points per game and ranking high nationally in efficiency. They grab nearly 38 rebounds and shoot well from everywhere. Syracuse scores about 75 points but allows close to 74, so their defense space is a real test against SMU's attack. Fans can catch the action live on the ACC network. With everything on the line, this Quadrant 1 clash could shake up both teams' postseason hopes.