North Carolina will try to end a four-game road losing streak when it takes on Syracuse in ACC action Saturday. The Tar Heels (14-11, 7-6 ACC) have lost five of their last seven games, with road defeats coming against Wake Forest, Pitt, Duke, and Clemson. Their most recent losses to Duke and Clemson came by a combined 37 points, raising concerns about their ability to compete on the road. Monday’s 85-65 loss to No. 23 Clemson showcased North Carolina’s offensive struggles. RJ Davis led the way with 18 points, but he was one of the few bright spots. Davis made 2 of 5 three-point attempts, while the rest of the team shot just 2-of-14 from deep. North Carolina will need

Georgia Tech looks to keep rolling Saturday as it hosts a struggling California team in an ACC showdown in Atlanta. After a 3-7 start in ACC play, the Yellow Jackets (12-13, 6-8 ACC) have won three of their last four games, including a 60-52 wire-to-wire victory over Stanford on Wednesday. With just three weeks left in the regular season, Georgia Tech appears to be hitting its stride at the right time. Naithan George has been a key factor in the turnaround. The sophomore guard led the team with 22 points, seven rebounds, and five assists against Stanford, continuing his strong stretch of play. Over the last five games, George is averaging 21 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game.

LSU and Oklahoma both find themselves in desperate need of a turnaround as they prepare to face off Saturday in Norman, Okla. The Sooners (16-8, 3-8 SEC) have lost three straight games, their last win coming in a 30-point rout of then-No. 24 Vanderbilt on Feb. 1. Since then, Oklahoma has been outmatched by ranked SEC opponents, including Tennessee (70-52) and Missouri (82-58). Coach Porter Moser expressed frustration with his team’s lack of fight in recent games. Oklahoma’s Jalon Moore (17.3 PPG) and Jeremiah Fears (15.2 PPG) lead the way offensively, but the Sooners will need more consistency to get back on track. Things are even worse for LSU (12-12, 1-10 SEC), which has dropped seven straight games since earning

Villanova enters Saturday night’s Big East showdown against Providence with momentum on its side. The Wildcats (15-10, 8-6 Big East) are on a three-game winning streak and fresh off a signature 73-71 victory over No. 9 St. John’s on Wednesday. Villanova’s hot shooting has fueled its recent success. The Wildcats have shot at least 50 percent in back-to-back games and 10 times this season. In their most recent victory, sophomore Tyler Perkins hit the game-winning 3-pointer with nine seconds left, capping a strong offensive performance. The Wildcats’ offensive attack revolves around Eric Dixon, who leads the nation in scoring at 23.5 points per game. He has scored in double figures in every game this season, including a 17-point effort against