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Students leave for winter break this week, but between the men’s and women’s basketball teams, there are ten games in the Carrier Dome until school resumes in January. The Orange will also be traveling for games, including a trip for the women’s ice hockey team to Pittsburgh for the Battle at the ‘Burgh tournament. 

Here’s a list of 10 can’t-miss games to catch over winter break before students return to SU: 

Syracuse men’s basketball vs. Florida State (Jan. 15, 2022) 

Syracuse broke Florida State’s 25-game conference home win streak with a 63-60 win in Tallahassee on Dec. 4 and will try to beat the Seminoles twice in one season for the first time in program history. Last season, Florida State and Syracuse were the only two teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference to advance to the Sweet 16. The Seminoles have a very balanced attack with a strong underclassman presence – seven players average five or more points per game. 

Syracuse women’s ice hockey at Battle at the ‘Burgh (Jan. 1-2, 2022) 

Syracuse is participating in the Battle at the ‘Burgh on New Year’s weekend against three nonconference opponents at the Pittsburgh Penguins training complex. The Orange play Boston University on New Year’s Day and will play either Penn State or St. Cloud State on Jan. 2. The Terriers beat national title runner-up Northeastern early in the season and hold a 9-6-3 record. The Orange lost in the College Hockey America tournament final last season and currently sit in first place in the CHA standings. 

Syracuse men’s basketball vs. Georgia Tech (Dec. 29, 2021) 

After a stretch against some nonconference opponents and old rivals, Syracuse commences a streak of 19 straight ACC games with a matchup against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are led by senior guard Michael Devoe, who ranks third in the nation with 22.1 points per game. After an unexpected ACC tournament championship last year, the Yellow Jackets have started the season with a 5-4 record. Devoe has scored in double digits every game this season and has hit multiple threes in all but two. 

Syracuse women’s basketball vs. Louisville (Jan. 13, 2022) 

Louisville — the ACC regular season champion last season — is off to a strong 7-1 start. The Cardinals ended Syracuse’s ACC tournament run last year with a 72-59 win in the semifinals. Emily Engstler had 21 points and 10 rebounds in that game, but she will now be a visitor at the Dome after transferring to Louisville last spring. Engstler currently leads the Cardinals in rebounds, steals and blocks and ranks second in scoring. 

Syracuse women’s basketball vs. Florida State (Jan. 2, 2022) 

In last year’s ACC tournament quarterfinals, Syracuse’s Kamilla Cardoso — now at South Carolina — scored a layup with one second remaining to beat Florida State 68-67 and send the Orange to the semifinals. And on Jan. 2, 2020, the Orange stunned the then-No. 8 Seminoles on an Engstler buzzer beater to win 90-89 in overtime. Two years to the day later, the Orange will look for a similar result against the 6-3 Seminoles. 

Syracuse men’s basketball vs. Virginia (Jan. 1, 2022) 

Syracuse seeks to avenge its buzzer-beating loss to Virginia in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament last season, hosting the Cavaliers on New Year’s Day. After being ranked No. 25 in the preseason AP Poll, the Cavaliers have been upset several times in nonconference play. They opened the season with losses to Navy and James Madison. Although the Orange lost to Virginia twice last year, they upset the then-No. 18 Cavaliers in overtime in 2020 thanks to five 3-pointers from Joe Girard III. 

Syracuse men’s basketball @ Miami (Jan. 5, 2022) 

Syracuse has beaten Miami in three out of the past four years, including an 83-57 blowout win last January. In that contest, Buddy Boeheim and Girard both scored 23 points and combined for nine 3s. Although Miami finished just 13th in the ACC last season, it has started this campaign 8-3. Hurricane guards Isaiah Wong and Kameron McGusty both score over 15 points per game and will be a challenge for the Orange’s defense.

Syracuse men’s basketball @ Wake Forest (Jan. 8, 2022) 

Despite a second-to-last finish in the ACC last year, the 9-1 Demon Deacons have started the season better than any other team in the conference. Wake Forest boasts three players who average more than 14 points per game, including senior guard Alondes Williams, who ranks third in the ACC with 18.2 points per game. 

Syracuse women’s basketball @ North Carolina (Dec. 30, 2021) 

North Carolina has started the season a perfect 9-0 but the Orange hope to spoil its dream start. SU is 1-1 in ACC play, but beat Clemson by 40 points on Dec. 11. Since joining the ACC, the Orange hold an 8-2 record against the Tar Heels.

Syracuse women’s basketball vs. Duke (Jan. 9, 2022) 

Despite cancelling its season just four games into 2020, Duke has started the 2021 season at 8-0, much like the Blue Devils’ rivals from Chapel Hill. Texas transfer Celeste Taylor was selected to the preseason ACC Newcomer Watch List and leads the team in scoring, rebounds and steals per game. The Orange will try to avoid a similar result from the last time the two teams played in January 2020, when Duke won 88-58.

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Published on December 12, 2021 at 7:45 pm

Contact Connor: cpignate@syr.edu