NC State
Syracuse
Pack Aims To Extend Win Streak Over Syracuse
2/26/2016 12:38:00 PM | Men's Basketball
| NC State (14-14, 4-11) at Syracuse (18-10, 8-7) | ||
| Date | Saturday, Feb. 27 | |
| Time | 2 p.m. ET | |
| Location | Carrier Dome – Syracuse, N.Y. | |
| Tickets | StubHub | |
| Television | ACCN Stations (WRAL) ESPN3 (Tim Brando, Mike Gminski) | |
| Radio | Wolfpack Sports Network (Gary Hahn, Tony Haynes) | |
| Game Notes | NC State | Syracuse | |
| Season Statistics | NC State | Syracuse | |
| Live Stats | GoPack.com | |
| Social Media | @PackMensBball | Facebook | |
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THE STARTING 5Â -Â The Top 5 Storylines For This Game
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1. HISTORIC SEASON FROM CAT BARBER
There have been several standout individuals across the Atlantic Coast Conference this season, but only Cat Barber has had a season that's truly historic. The 6-2 junior is leading the ACC in scoring with 23.5 points per game (league-best 23.8 ppg in ACC play) and is on pace to become the second player in ACC history to average 23 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 4.5 apg (Kenny Anderson in 1990-91). Barber has a league-best eight games with 30 or more points, including six in ACC play. His 38-point against Wake Forest on Feb. 13 was a career high and featured 30 points in the second half. On Wednesday he scored 32 points (13 points in the first 5:28 of the game) against UNC Chapel Hill. Additionally, he is also leading the conference in free throws made (207) and minutes per game (38.75) and is third in free throw percentage (.870) and fourth in assists (4.5).
2. MATCH UP WELL WITH SYRACUSE
Since Syracuse came into the ACC in 2013, NC State has claimed some significant victories against the Orange. In the 2014 ACC Tournament, the Wolfpack defeated a 9th-ranked Syracuse team 66-63 in the league quarterfinal. That win was a key ingredient to NC State's NCAA Tournament resume that season. In last season's regular season finale, NC State rolled past the Orange 71-57 at PNC Arena to clinch a 10-8 ACC record. Another near-win came in February 2014, when the Pack lost at Syracuse 56-55. Weather and airplane issues caused travel delays for NC State, and the team arrived in Syracuse for the 7 p.m. game at 3 p.m. Despite the interruption, NC State had a chance to win in the final seconds against Syracuse, which was ranked No. 1 at the time.Â
3. WELCOMING THE NEW ACC SCHOOLS WITH OPEN ARMS
In the three seasons since Notre Dame, Syracuse and Pittsburgh joined the ACC, NC State has fared well against the new schools. The Pack is 6-3 against those three teams, including an ACC Tournament win over Syracuse in 2014 and one over Pitt in 2015. NC State has three wins over Pittsburgh, two over Syracuse and a 2014 win at Notre Dame.
4. GET 'EM ON THE GLASSÂ
NC State is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the nation, and one area where the Wolfpack could have an advantage is on the glass. The Pack pulls in 37.2 percent of available offensive rebounds, a number that ranks 17th in the nation. Syracuse is last in the ACC and 338th nationally in defensive rebounding percentage. NC State has 12 games this season with 16 or more offensive rebounds.Â
5. BEEJAY CLOSING IN ON SCHOOL BLOCKS RECORDÂ
BeeJay Anya now has 205 career blocked shots, two shy of tying the school record (207 by Thurl Bailey). Anya and Bailey are the only two players in NC State history to block 200 shots. The 6-9 junior led the ACC in blocked shots last season (2.53 per game) and is currently topping the conference in that category this year (2.42 per game).
