Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh Preview

Syracuse is looking to make history Sunday at the Petersen Events Center. All 34 opponents to play the Pittsburgh Panthers in their new home have all gone down in defeat, and their home winning streak sits at 40 right now. The unranked Orangemen will try to end that streak and become the first road team to walk out Pittsburgh with a win in nearly three years.

#3/3 Pittsburgh (25-2, 11-2) comes into the contest leading the Big East with a record of 11-2. The unranked Orangemen still find themselves in a tie for fourth place with Seton Hall at 8-5. However, the Pirates own the tiebreaker after beating Syracuse back in January.

Sunday's contest will be a matchup of Syracuse's high-powered offense (75.3 ppg, second in the Big East) versus Pittsburgh's stifling defense (57 ppg allowed, first in the Big East). The Orangemen are led by junior Hakim Warrick (19.8 ppg) and sophomore Gerry McNamara (16.3 ppg). The Panthers are paced defensively by its strong perimeter defense from Jaron Brown, Julius Page, and Carl Krauser. Freshman Chris Taft and junior Chevon Troutman also form a strong low-post presence.

Syracuse will come into Sunday's game having won four out of their last five games. However, they have lost six of the last seven against the Panthers, including being manhandled, 66-45, by Pittsburgh in the Carrier Dome. The 45 points scored by the Orangemen was their lowest point total in a game since 1968.

The game will be televised on CBS. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.