CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Syracuse (19-12, 10-8 Atlantic Coast) rested on Tuesday while Pittsburgh (14-18, 3-15) defeated Boston College, 80-70. The Panthers’ win set up their meeting with the Orange on Wednesday night in the ACC Tournament. SU won both regular season meetings, 74-63 and 65-56.

Here’s what our beat writers expect to happen on Wednesday.

Billy Heyen (23-8)
“New season”
Syracuse 72, Pittsburgh 63

After two-straight losses, Syracuse’s players are looking forward to the “new season.” Pittsburgh will have a possible advantage after a big midgame surge on Tuesday night, but SU will be more rested. The Orange beat Pitt twice in the regular season, and some people say the third time’s the charm. But I expect the Syracuse new season to get off on the right foot as the Panthers struggle to make enough perimeter shots to hang.

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Charlie DiSturco (22-9)
Third time is not the charm
Syracuse 70, Pittsburgh 64

For the third time this season, Pittsburgh will look to down the Orange. And for the third time, Syracuse will come out on top. While SU has struggled mightily in second halves, they have been great against ACC bottom feeders. Expect Tyus Battle to have a dominant performance en route to another bout with Duke.

Matthew Gutierrez (18-13)
Third time is almost the charm
Syracuse 61, Pittsburgh 60

On the schedule: Close win in Charlotte late Wednesday night. Pitt looked good against SU in the team’s last meeting, and the Panthers plan to attack the 2-3 the same way Virginia Tech and Duke have: getting the ball to the middle. Whether it’ll work remains to be seen, but I take Syracuse in a back-and-forth battle.

Published on March 12, 2019 at 11:08 pm