Notre Dame @ Syracuse preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 21, 2017 ) Syracuse 66, Notre Dame 84

Notre Dame looks to move to 3-0 in ACC play as it visits Syracuse in a nationally televised game on Saturday afternoon. The Orange, 1-1 in conference action, are coming off a tough loss at Wake Forest on Jan. 3.

The Fighting Irish are winners of four straight, including a convincing 88-58 victory over North Carolina State in their last game on Jan. 3. Sophomore guard T.J. Gibbs led the way with 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists, while freshman D.J. Harvey added a career-high 17 points. Syracuse gave up 12 of the last 18 points over the final 1:56 of regulation in the 73-67 loss at Wake Forest. Junior Frank Howard scored a game-high 23 points and freshman Oshae Brissett chipped in with 16 to go along with seven rebounds.

TV: 3:15 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (12-3, 2-0 ACC): Notre Dame will be without senior Bonzie Colson for the second consecutive game as the star forward had surgery for a fracture in his foot and is out for eight weeks. Colson, a consensus preseason first-team All-American, leads the Irish in scoring (21.4), rebounds (10.4) and is one of only three players in the ACC to be averaging a double-double. Notre Dame is also expected to be without point guard Matt Farrell after the senior sprained his ankle on Jan. 3.

ABOUT SYRACUSE (12-3, 1-1): Syracuse has lost just three times this season, but two of those have come in the last four games. The Orange feature a stingy defense that is allowing just 62.9 points per game, good for third in the ACC and 20th in the nation. Offensively, the Orange feature two of the ACC's top-10 scorers as Tyus Battle ranks third with 19.4 points per game and fellow guard Howard is 10th at 15.8.

TIP-INS

1. Syracuse leads the all-time series 28-20, but the Irish beat the Orange at home 84-66 in the only meeting last season.

2. Fighting Irish coach Mike Brey will be looking for win No. 395 at Notre Dame after becoming the winningest coach in program history with the victory over N.C. State on Jan. 3. He is seven wins away from 500 in his career.

3. Syracuse has won its last five home games against Notre Dame.

PREDICTION: Syracuse 78, Notre Dame 77.