Can Notre Dame Fighting Irish Outmaneuver Syracuse Orange at JMA Wireless Dome?

As the Notre Dame Fighting Irish prepare to face off against the Syracuse Orange, fans are eagerly anticipating what promises to be a riveting encounter at the JMA Wireless Dome. The upcoming game on February 24 is set against a backdrop of recent performances that suggest an edge for the Fighting Irish.

Notre Dame's last outing on February 10 saw them secure a hard-fought victory over Virginia Tech Hokies with a score of 74-66. The team showcased an impressive offensive display, shooting 49 percent from the field and an even more remarkable 57 percent from two-point range. Their defense was equally tenacious, with eight steals contributing to their dominance.

The resilience of ND was evident as they out-rebounded their opponents by six and maintained a higher assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.0 compared to Hokies' 1.18. This level of performance is indicative of a team that knows how to control both ends of the court effectively.

However, it's not all smooth sailing for ND; their encounter with Duke Blue Devils on February 8 highlighted some areas for concern despite falling short with a scoreline of 53-71. The team struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 26 percent from three-point land and turning over the ball fifteen times which translated into points for Duke.

In contrast, Syracuse Orange will be looking to capitalize on any slip-ups by ND. They must be wary though; ND has shown they can bounce back as demonstrated in their game against Pittsburgh Panthers where they improved their free throw percentage dramatically to an impressive 88 percent after previously recording just 67 percent against Duke.

For Notre Dame fans, there's reason for optimism as well as caution heading into this matchup. If ND can replicate their shooting efficiency and defensive prowess seen in recent games while tightening up ball security, they stand a good chance at overcoming Syracuse in their own backyard.

The stage is set for February 24 at noon when these two teams clash under the bright lights of JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, NY. Fans won't want to miss this showdown broadcasted live on ESPN Networks – it’s sure to be one where every possession counts and could very well come down to which team makes fewer mistakes while executing under pressure.