The Atlantic Coast Conference’s longest-tenured coaches will square off, with each team looking for some late-season momentum when Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim takes on host Florida State’s Leonard Hamilton in Tallahassee, Fla., on Wednesday night.
Both teams snapped three-game losing streaks by winning their most recent contests.
Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.
Thanks for signing up!
A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.
The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.
Syracuse (14-10, 7-6 ACC) beat Boston College 77-68 on Saturday, with Jesse Edwards making 80 percent of his shots (12-for-15) and finishing with a career-high 27 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. Joseph Girard III hit nine free throws and added 18 points as the Orange took the lead for good with 7:25 left.
Florida State (8-16, 6-7) is coming off an 81-78 win at Louisville and will next try to snap a three-game losing streak at home.
Florida State had to hold off a late 17-2 surge by the host Cardinals. But despite the late struggles, the Seminoles’ win had more of their signature look with five players scoring in double figures, led by Cameron Corhen’s 16 points on seven made field goals.
Matthew Cleveland totaled 15 points and 10 rebounds to pick up his 10th double-double of the season.
“We’ve had a long year, we’ve been through it all, we’ve seen it all, but in the last three minutes we showed we’re a brotherhood and we pulled it together,” Cleveland said. “This season didn’t start how we wanted, but we’re playing it game by game right now.”
“This is an awful place we’re in in college basketball,” Boeheim recently told ESPN. “Pittsburgh bought a team. OK, fine. My (big donor) talks about it, but he doesn’t give anyone any money. Nothing. Not one guy. Our guys make like $20,000. Wake Forest bought a team. Miami bought a team. … It’s like, ‘Really, this is where we are?’ That’s really where we are, and it’s only going to get worse.”
–Field Level Media
Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis. Care for a wager? Head to our sports betting section for news and odds.