Game Thread | Syracuse at Notre Dame

Syracuse (3-4) vs. Notre Dame (6-1)  

Date: December 3rd

Time: 12:00 PM ET 

Where: Purcell Pavilion | South Bend, Ind. 

TV: ESPN2 | Dave O’Brien, Debbie Antonelli

Line: Notre Dame -6.5

O/U: 133.5

QUICK FACTS 

- Syracuse leads the all-time series 31-23

- Notre Dame topped the Orange 79-69 in the last meeting (Feb. 2022) 

- The Irish are 20-1 at home over the last two seasons

- Nate Laszewski’s ranks in the Top 10 of six different stat categories in the ACC 

- Notre Dame is one of four programs where all five starters average in double figures. 

PROJECTED STARTERS

Notre Dame

Syracuse 

Preview

Bounce-back mode has worked for Notre Dame over the last year and the Irish once again rebounded from a tough loss to upset No. 20 Michigan State 70-52 on Wednesday evening. Now, Mike Brey’s squad will turn its focus to building on a big win as Syracuse comes to Purcell Pavilion to start ACC play. 

“I told them we’re 0-0 and we’re trying to get to 1-0 in the league,” Brey stated. “Cormac Ryan, who wears it, sells it, talks it and backs it up said this summer, ‘We want to win the regular season championship.’ I brought that up and reminded them you have to start with 1-0.” 

A year ago, Syracuse finished 16-17, which was the first losing season under head coach Jim Boeheim. The Orange seem to be on pace for a worse season this year as Syracuse is averaging 70.4 points a night, which is No. 166 in the nation. 

Syracuse lost 73-44 earlier this week at No. 16 Illinois and the Orange shot just 27.8 percent from the field. Judah Mintz leads the Orange in scoring, but scored just nine points and shot 3-for-16 from the field against the Illini. 

As it relates to Notre Dame, the Irish can’t have a letdown game against a lesser opponent and the expected return of grad transfer guard Marcus Hammond couldn’t come at a better time. 

Hammond will not only have fresh legs, but he’ll bring energy as he makes his debut in the blue and gold. 

“He gives you another guy that can go,” Brey explained. “He can score. He can shoot it. As I watched us this summer, I said, five old guys and the two young guys. If we can keep that seven moving, I think we got a chance. We’re getting close to getting those seven together.” 

Saturday will also be a big game for freshman JJ Starling, who grew up in Baldwinsville (N.Y.), which is 17 minutes from Syracuse’s campus. 

“I just see it as another game,” said Starling, who picked the Irish over the Orange. “I don’t want to really say this one is more important because I’m playing Syracuse. It is big for me because I know all those guys, but when we step between those lines, it’s game time. There’s no friendships on the court. I’m going to come in with focus and do my part.” 

Notre Dame’s veterans have been here before and Ryan wasn’t too high on the win over Michigan State as he knows it’s a long season, while also understanding getting off to a 1-0 start in ACC play is important. 

“You know my philosophy,” Ryan said. “The biggest game is the next one on the schedule. It’s as simple as that.” 

If Notre Dame can follow Ryan’s lead, it will likely lead to a salty postgame presser similar to last year from Boeheim. (See below) 

Notre Dame Last Five
Michigan State - 70-52 W
St. Bonaventure - 63-51 L 
Bowling Green State - 82-66 W 
Lipscomb - 66-65 W 
Southern Indiana - 82-70 W

Syracuse Last Five
Illinois - 73-44 L
Bryant - 73-72 L 
St. John’s - 76-69 L 
Richmond - 74-71 W/OT
Northeastern - 76-48 W 

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