UPDATED: Feb. 22, 2017 at 8:53 a.m.

It’s finally time for Syracuse and Duke. In the most anticipated matchup of the season, the No. 10 Blue Devils (22-5, 10-4 Atlantic Coast) enter Wednesday night’s game in the Carrier Dome having won seven straight, while Syracuse (16-12, 8-7) is coming off a loss on the road against Georgia Tech.

Here’s everything you need to know about Wednesday’s matchup.

All-time series: Duke leads, 5-4

Last time they played: In a 2015-16 season full of surprising wins, beating the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Arena last January was among Syracuse’s most unlikely feats. SU’s eight-point lead with a little over five minutes remaining was the largest advantage for either team in the game, but Duke still trimmed its deficit to a single point with 34 seconds to go. A couple of defensive stops for the Orange sealed the game, in which Tyler Roberson notched a third-straight double-double with 14 points and 20 rebounds. Roberson set a record for the most rebounds by a visiting player in Cameron Indoor Arena and his 14 offensive rebounds tied Billy Owens’ single-game SU record set in 1990.

The Duke report: This season has been nothing short of a roller coaster for the Blue Devils. Heralded as the top-ranked team in college basketball for the season’s first two weeks, Duke steadily began a decline, losing three of four games last month. Duke slipped to No. 21 in the rankings, but has since responded by winning seven straight. With all the publicity surrounding controversial Grayson Allen, it’s Luke Kennard who’s been the Blue Devils’ best player. He’s one of the ACC’s top scorers, coupled with Amile Jefferson, one of the conference’s best defensive players. The senior forward is among the ACC’s leaders in rebounds and blocks. Up and down the roster, Duke is one of the deepest teams in the country.

How Syracuse beats Duke: The Orange’s split, home-and-away personality is a narrative beaten into the ground. But Syracuse playing better in the Carrier Dome is the only predictable outcome in what’s been a bizarre season. For whatever reason, SU can go shot-for-shot with the country’s best teams on its home court. Games against Louisville, Virginia and Florida State are enough reason to think the Orange can hang with the Blue Devils. But to win, SU will need to unleash one of its best defensive efforts of the season. Duke leads the ACC in field-goal percentage and 3-point percentage during conference play, a specific area of defensive weakness for SU. If Syracuse can neutralize sharpshooters like Jayson Tatum and Kennard, it’ll have a good chance at keeping up.

Stat to know: 31.7 percent

The Blue Devils shoot 3-pointers better than any ACC team in conference play. Duke opponents are shooting a lowly 31.7 percent from behind the arc, a definite concern for Syracuse given how poorly it handled the 3-point defense from a similar Louisville team. The Cardinals boast the best 3-point defense in conference play, and forced the Orange into an 8-for-34 performance from deep.

Player to know: Luke Kennard, guard, No. 5

The 6-foot-6 sophomore is the can’t-miss scoring talent on the Blue Devils. He’s demonstrated an elite jumper around the basket and a selective presence behind the arc. He’s not going to match Andrew White in 3-point attempts, but he might in actual baskets. Kennard shoots 45.5 percent from 3, better than any player on Syracuse. If the Orange can’t get a handle on Kennard defensively — not many teams have — it’s going to be a mighty challenge to keep pace with Duke.

CORRECTION: In a previous version of this post, Duke’s ranking was misstated. The Daily Orange regrets this error.

Published on February 21, 2017 at 10:26 pm

Contact Connor: cgrossma@syr.edu | @connorgrossman