Syracuse is back on top as the No. 1 ranked team in college basketball after Arizona ended their run at the top following a loss to California over the weekend. The Orange is currently off to their best start in school history going 21-0. Over the weekend they survived a test against Duke and will now face Notre Dame for a conference game at home.
Syracuse got their share of excitement facing Duke in front of a sold-out crowd. The team trailed 87-84 with 80 seconds left in the game before tying the game up and eventually winning in overtime. CJ Fair scored a career-high 28 points to help lead the team. He emerged out of a four-game slump where he was averaging just 14.0 points on 36.0 shooting.
The Fight Irish have found success at home, but have yet to win on the road. Notre Dame is the only ACC team left to not have win on the road as the team sets 0-5 away from home. However, they have some momentum after defeating Boston College 76-73 in an overtime win. Eric Atkins put up 24 points in the win while hitting the game-winning 3-point shot.
The meeting between Syracuse and Notre Dame is the first between the two teams after getting put into the ACC from the Big East. Last season, the Irish fell to Syracuse after Fair put up 18 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
Syracuse is looking become the fifth team in the last 10 seasons to open the year with 22-straight wins. Wichita State is also fighting for that chance, sitting at 23-0 as the only other unbeaten team left in college basketball.
