Orange Host Notre Dame in Home Showdown This Saturday

Avery K. Bristow

Published: January 31, 2026 7:51 PM ET

Orange Host Notre Dame in Home Showdown This Saturday

The Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team will face off against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a critical home game this Saturday. The matchup is set to take place in the JMA Wireless Dome at 6:00 p.m. on January 31. This will be a key game for both teams in their pursuit of a better standing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Honoring Lawrence Moten

This Saturday’s game will also feature a special ceremony to honor the late Lawrence Moten. Moten, who passed away on September 30 at the age of 53, is Syracuse’s all-time leading scorer. He accumulated 2,334 points during his college career from 1991 to 1995 and was recognized as one of the 25 players selected for the Syracuse All-Century team. His jersey number 21 was retired on March 3, 2018, highlighting his significant contributions to the university and the community.

Syracuse’s Recent Performance

The Orange enter this game with a record of 12 wins and 9 losses, along with a 3-5 tally in conference play. Leading the team is sophomore Donnie Freeman, who averages 19.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Freeman has shown exceptional skill, particularly during his recent return after an injury, where he scored over 20 points in six games.

Freeman’s impressive stats:
- Averaging 19.9 points in ACC games.
- Recorded a career-high 27 points against Georgia Tech.
- Achieved a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds against NC State.
Syracuse’s three-point shooting has also been notable:
- Shooting 375% from beyond the arc in conference play.
- Second-fewest three-pointers allowed in the ACC.

Defensive Strengths

Syracuse’s defense plays a pivotal role in their success, allowing only 69.9 points per game and ranking second nationally in blocks with an average of 7.1 per game. Senior William Kyle III has been instrumental in this aspect, averaging 2.71 blocks per game, a figure that ranks third in the nation. He contributes offensively as well, adding an average of 9.5 points per game.

Scouting Notre Dame

The Fighting Irish arrive in Syracuse with an overall record of 11-10 and a 2-6 mark in the ACC. They are currently struggling, having lost six of their last seven games. A highlight from their recent performances was a double-overtime thriller against #17 Virginia, which they narrowly lost 100-97.

Key players for Notre Dame:
- Freshman Jalen Haralson leads the team in scoring with 15.0 points per game.
- Micah Shrewsberry, in his third season, is continuing to develop the program.
- Senior Braeden Shrewsberry leads the ACC in three-point shooting percentage.

Series History

Syracuse holds an all-time advantage over Notre Dame, winning 35 out of 59 matchups. The Orange have recently dominated the series, winning four of the last five encounters. The last matchup ended with a Syracuse victory, where J.J. Starling tallied 21 points.