North Carolina State University Athletics
Pack Hosts Top-Ranked Syracuse On Saturday
12/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 15, 2011
NC STATE (6-3) vs. 1/1SYRACUSE (10-0)
6:30 PM
RBC CENTER
DEC. 17, 2011
TELEVISION: ESPN2
Jon Sciambi, Play-by-Play, Hubert Davis, Color Analyst
RADIO: NC STATE RADIO NETWORK
Gary Hahn, Play-by-Play, Tony Haynes, Color Analyst
SIRIUS/XM
CH. 85
Syracuse Notes 
| GameTracker | Listen | Watch
RALEIGH, N.C. - For the first time since 1979, NC State will host a top-ranked non-conference foe when it plays Syracuse on Saturday at a sold out RBC Center. Game time is 6:30 and set for broadcast on ESPN2 with Jon Sciambi describing the action and Hubert Davis providing analysis. The NC State Radio Network with Gary Hahn and Tony Haynes will be on the air starting at 6 p.m.
This is the fifth meeting in the series between the Pack and Orange. NC State's only victory in the series was a 82-68 decision on Dec. 8, 2001 in Syracuse when the Orange was ranked ninth in the nation. Saturday's game is only the second time that the two teams have played in Raleigh with both meetings coming at the RBC Center.
The last No. 1-ranked non-conference foe to play the Wolfpack in Raleigh was Notre Dame in 1979. The Irish were coached by Digger Phelps and led by Kelly Tripucka, Bill Laimbeer and Orlando Woolridge. NC State was coach by Norm Sloan and featured Hawkeye Whitney, Clyde Austin, Tony Warren and Tiny Pinder.
Against the Irish, the Pack fought back from a 46-37 deficit midway through the second half and held a brief lead in the final minute. But a pair of Tripucka free throws with six seconds remaining sealed a 53-52 Irish win.
FUTURE CONFERENCE FOE: After Saturday's meeting, NC State and Syracuse will face each other on a regular basis when the Orange joins the ACC. Syracuse, along with Pittsburgh, officially accepted invitations to become members of the league on Sept. 18.
VERSUS RANKED OPPOSITION: The loss to No. 18 Vanderbilt on Nov. 19 marked NC State's six straight setback to ranked opposition.
The last time the Pack defeated a top-25 team was a 68-54 win over Wake Forest on Feb. 20, 2010, when the Demon Deacons were ranked 23rd.
The last time NC State defeated a top-10 team was an 88-74 victory when the Duke Blue Devils were ranked the No. 7 on Jan. 20, 2010.
VERSUS RANKED OPPOSITION AT THE RBC CENTER: Since moving to the RBC Center for the 1999-2000 season, the Wolfpack is 14-25 in games against all ranked opponents there. Against ranked non-conference opposition, State owns a 1-2 mark.
The Pack's 78-59 win (12/30/05) over then-No. 12 George Washington is State's only victory over a ranked non-conference foe. Its other losses have come to the Orange (2/3/01), 54-53, when Syracuse was ranked 12th in the country. The other loss came to No. 10 Alabama, 82-75 (12/20/06), which was under the direction of Mark Gottfried.
