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ORANGE GAME DAY: Syracuse men’s basketball visits Virginia (preview)

ORANGE GAME DAY: Syracuse men’s basketball visits Virginia (preview)

Syracuse men’s basketball (13-10, 4-6 ACC) faces its second straight Top-20 opponent today at 12 p.m. when it travels to John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville to take on Virginia (19-3, 8-2 ACC).

The Orange enter the matchup playing some of their best offensive basketball from beyond the arc, ranking among the ACC’s top three-point shooting teams over the past month. Senior Nate Kingz has led the perimeter attack, recording multiple three-pointers in six of his last seven games, while sophomore Tyler Betsey has also shot efficiently from deep during conference play. Sophomore Donnie Freeman continues to pace the offense, averaging 18.6 points per game and leading the team in scoring in 10 contests this season.

Defensively, Syracuse remains one of the nation’s top shot-blocking teams, anchored by senior William Kyle III, who was recently named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watchlist. Kyle III leads the ACC in blocks and has recorded multiple rejections in each of the last four games while also contributing as the team’s top rebounder.

Virginia enters with a 19-3 overall record and has won eight of its first 10 ACC games. The Cavaliers feature a balanced scoring attack led by freshman Thijs De Ridder, while also ranking among the conference leaders in rebounding and shot blocking.

Syracuse and Virginia have met 21 times, with the Cavaliers holding a 14-7 edge in the all-time series. The Orange won last season’s meeting, 84-70, at the JMA Wireless Dome.

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