Syracuse, Pitt Face Critical Stretch for ACC Tournament Berths

As the ACC Tournament race tightens, Pittsburgh and Syracuse meet in a pivotal showdown Tuesday night, with both teams fighting for postseason positioning. The Panthers (15-10, 6-8 ACC) are in a four-way tie for ninth place, clinging to a crucial first-round bye in the tournament. Meanwhile, the Orange (11-15, 5-10 ACC) are barely holding onto a tournament spot, needing a strong finish to secure their place in Charlotte.

Jaland Lowe’s Return a Boost for Pitt?

Pitt expects to have leading scorer Jaland Lowe back after he missed Saturday’s 80-72 win over Miami with concussion-like symptoms. The sophomore guard was injured in a collision at SMU on Feb. 11 but is trending toward a return.

Lowe is averaging 16.5 points per game, nearly seven more than last season. His return adds firepower to a Panthers squad that has lost eight of its last 11 games and desperately needs a win to stay in the ACC’s top nine.

Without Lowe, true freshman Brandin Cummings stepped up in his first career start against Miami, scoring 11 points in 33 minutes. His performance could be a factor against Syracuse, especially if Lowe is limited.

Can Syracuse Fix Defensive Woes?

The Orange have struggled defensively, allowing 78.6 points per game, ranking 17th in the ACC. Their latest loss, an 88-82 setback against North Carolina, highlighted their inability to get key stops late in games.

“In certain situations, when we needed to get a stop, we didn’t get the stop,” Syracuse coach Adrian Autry said. “That was kind of a theme. When we needed rebounds, we didn’t get them.”

Despite defensive struggles, Syracuse has offensive firepower led by:

• JJ Starling (18.7 PPG, 3.5 RPG) – Has battled injuries but remains a consistent scoring threat
• Eddie Lampkin Jr. (11.1 PPG, 8.7 RPG) – Posted a season-high 26 points against UNC
• Chris Bell (12.3 PPG, 39.1% 3PT) – A key shooter who can stretch the floor

However, without stronger defensive play, the Orange could be in serious trouble down the stretch.

Head-to-Head: Syracuse vs. Pitt

This is the second meeting of the season between these two teams. In their first matchup on Jan. 25, Pitt won 77-73 on the road, despite being outrebounded 48-31 by Syracuse.

The difference-maker? Turnovers.

• Pitt committed only 3 turnovers in that game, neutralizing Syracuse’s rebounding edge
• Lowe led the way with 22 points in that win

Now, with Lowe likely returning, Pitt will look to replicate its disciplined play while handling Syracuse’s physical rebounding.

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Key Matchup Breakdown

Expect a tight battle, but Pitt’s better ball security and home-court edge should give them the win in this critical ACC tournament race.

Tip-Off: Tuesday, 7:00 PM ET
Location: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, PA
TV: ACC Network