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Syracuse has gone through a peculiar start to the season. The Orange have yet to play a Power Four opponent, though they’ve been challenged in all three of their contests so far. SU barely defeated Le Moyne and Colgate, winning by a combined six points in each contest.

In Syracuse’s latest game, it needed double overtime to defeat Youngstown State 104-95. The Orange trailed by seven at halftime, but J.J. Starling came alive to help force overtime. The shooting guard scored 31 of his career-high 38 points after the break. Eddie Lampkin Jr. also proved crucial down the stretch, scoring or assisting 10 of SU’s 18 points in the second overtime.

Now, Syracuse faces Texas, its first tough test of the season. The matchup with the Longhorns will be SU’s first of two games at the Legends Classic in Brooklyn, New York. Texas is the first of three tricky nonconference opponents for the Orange before they head into conference play.

Here’s everything to know about Texas (3-1, Southeastern Conference) before it takes on Syracuse (3-0, Atlantic Coast Conference) in Brooklyn Thursday:

All-time series

Syracuse leads 1-0.

Last time they played …

The stakes were a little higher the last — and only — time Syracuse took on Texas. The two schools met in the 2003 Final Four in New Orleans. Texas came in as the No. 1 overall seed while the SU was a No. 3 seed in the East Region. That night, it was the Carmelo Anthony show.

The then-freshman phenom put on one of the most legendary NCAA Tournament game performances, dropping 33 points on 12-of-19 shooting and 14 rebounds in 37 minutes. Anthony’s performance spearheaded SU to a 95-84 win, advancing it to the NCAA title game. Hakim Warrick and Gerry McNamara also chipped in with 18 and 19 points, respectively, as the Orange shot 57% from the field.

KenPom Odds

Syracuse has a projected 19% chance to win, with a projected score of 83-73.

The Longhorns report

Texas is coming off its fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Longhorns finished the 2023-24 season 21-13, falling to Tennessee 62-58 in the second round of the big dance. UT lost its four top scorers from that team, including the starting backcourt of Max Abmas and Tyrese Hunter along with second-leading scorer Dylan Disu.

The Longhorns added experienced players Jordan Pope, Tramon Mark and Arthur Kaluma in the transfer portal along with star freshman Tre Johnson. The shooting guard is Texas’ leading scorer, while center Kadin Shedrick increased his scoring average from 7.7 points per game to 11.

UT’s depth has shone through during its first four games, with seven players averaging at least 6.5 points. Though its strength lines in its offensive efficiency. Its effective field goal percentage — a stat which adjusts a player’s field-goal percentage to the added value of 3-point shots — is 59.5%. According to KenPom, that is the 20th-best rate in the country. Meanwhile, Syracuse is giving up a 52.6 effective field-goal percentage, which ranks 230th in the nation.

Hailey Hoang | Design Editor

How Syracuse beats Texas

With how closely Syracuse has played against mediocre competition so far, it’s hard to see a path for the Orange to pull off a win. If they do, it’ll be behind Starling. The junior dragged SU over the line Saturday and proved he can be the much-needed alpha on this team. He completely took over, taking a shot nearly every time down the floor. Starling showed off his diverse scoring arsenal, knocking down mid-range jumpers while aggressively attacking the basket.

Starling and the rest of Syracuse’s roster needs to display a sense of urgency in the first half. The Orange haven’t started any game well — one of the main reasons they’ve had to eke out three straight close wins. Syracuse can’t afford to start slow against Texas, or else it’ll be punished.

Whether it’s playing through Starling on the perimeter or dumping the ball down to Lampkin, SU needs to convert. Texas presents an elite defense, holding its last three opponents to under 60 points. The Longhorns’ 95.5 defensive KenPom rating is in the top 30 nationally.

Stat to know: 36.6%

According to KenPom, Texas’ opponents shoot just 36.6% from 2-point range, which is the third-best mark in the country. Considering Syracuse’s struggles from beyond the arc — 25.4% through three games — this presents a major problem for the Orange.

Syracuse gets 62.1% of its points from 2-pointers, the eighth-highest rate in the country, meaning something’s got to give. Either the Orange’s success below the arc will continue or Texas will completely nullify the way SU attacks. With how SU has played so far this season, the latter seems more plausible.

Player to watch: Tre Johnson, guard, No. 20

There’s no doubt Johnson is the most talented player on Texas’ roster. The No. 6 player in the 2024 recruiting class, per 247Sports, has wasted no time adjusting to college basketball. He’s averaging 23.5 points through four games, scoring at least 18 in every contest so far. The shooting guard burst onto the scene with 29 points against Ohio State on Nov. 11, draining five 3-pointers.

Johnson is a projected lottery pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s displayed impressive efficiency, shooting 59% from the field. Johnson could continue his strong start Thursday since Syracuse has struggled to contain opposing guards in its first three games.

Published on November 20, 2024 at 11:29 pm

Contact Zak: zakwolf784254@gmail.com | @ZakWolf22