Mon Feb 02 23:30:00 UTC 2026: ### Tar Heels Face Syracuse Test Before Duke Rivalry
The Story:
The University of North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball team is set to face the Syracuse Orange on Monday night at the Smith Center. The game precedes a highly anticipated matchup against their arch-rivals, the Duke Blue Devils, on Saturday. The Tar Heels are aiming to extend their winning streak to four games but are wary of a potential “trap game,” having lost the mid-week contest before the Duke game in each of the last three seasons. Both teams are coming off Saturday wins, with Syracuse defeating Notre Dame and UNC besting Georgia Tech.
Key Points:
* UNC plays Syracuse at 7 p.m. on ESPN on Monday.
* Syracuse is 13-9 overall and 4-5 in ACC play, struggling with only one win in their last five games.
* UNC defeated Georgia Tech 91-75, while Syracuse beat Notre Dame 86-72 on Saturday.
* Caleb Wilson led UNC against Georgia Tech with 22 points.
* UNC has lost the mid-week game before the Duke game in each of the last 3 seasons.
* Donnie Freeman leads Syracuse in scoring with 18.2 points per game.
Key Takeaways:
* UNC faces a critical test against Syracuse before the high-stakes Duke game, needing to avoid a letdown.
* The Tar Heels’ recent history of losing the game before the Duke rivalry adds pressure to the Syracuse matchup.
* Syracuse is struggling, but still poses a threat if UNC is not focused.
First Piper 