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For the first time in over a month, Syracuse won consecutive games. Fresh off losing six of their past seven games, the Orange rattled off thrilling wins against California and SMU, keeping their NCAA Tournament hopes alive — even if it’s just by a thread.

If SU is going to make a serious run for a March Madness bid, beating Duke could spark national attention. The Blue Devils are the highest-ranked team Syracuse will face this season, per the NET Rankings, KenPom and EvanMiya.

Here’s what our beat writers think will happen when Syracuse (15-11, 6-7 ACC) takes on No. 4 Duke (23-2, 12-1 ACC) Monday at Cameron Indoor Stadium:

Aiden Stepansky (20-6)
Back to reality
Syracuse 70, Duke 83

Syracuse’s two-game winning streak has been impressive. The Orange notched their best win in ACC play and then followed it up with an even better one, defeating a probable March Madness team. However, this is different. It’s Duke.

The Blue Devils again are one of the top teams in the country and a force to be reckoned with. Duke hasn’t lost a game on its home court since March 9, 2024, when it fell to North Carolina. On the other hand, Syracuse’s only road wins this year came against Georgia Tech and Pittsburgh.

Duke’s inability to get clicking from 3 could be a window of opportunity for the Orange if they catch fire from deep themselves. Still, Cameron Boozer’s inside presence and the Blue Devils’ overall defensive strength will be a lot to overcome for a Syracuse squad still struggling to get top players like J.J. Starling in a consistent groove.

I actually see this game being somewhat close throughout the first half. But after a few halftime adjustments from head coach Jon Scheyer, I expect Duke to come out and build separation. SU is certainly clicking at the right time and headed in the right direction. Though the Orange are running into a buzz saw.

Cooper Andrews (19-7)
Booz Cruise
Syracuse 68, Duke 88

Some of my best memories watching basketball as a kid were of the early 2010s Chicago Bulls, led by former MVP Derrick Rose and defensive stalwart Joakim Noah. But one of my favorites was always Carlos Boozer. I used to emulate his highly-exaggerated jumpshot form during my youth hoops days, and loved joining in on “Booz” chants that’d flood the United Center.

Now it seems Carlos’ son, Cameron, is going to be even better than he — a 13-year NBA veteran and two-time All-Star — ever was. Like he has against so many other schools this season, Boozer will cruise his way to another gaudy performance on Monday against Syracuse. He’ll break through SU’s 2-3 zone and be the catalyst behind a 20-point Duke win.

For Syracuse, it has two options: sell out to stall Boozer and free up the Blue Devils’ loaded supporting cast, or play its game and take its chances. I don’t see the Orange being negligent to put too many resources on stopping Boozer, especially with guys like Patrick Ngongba and Caleb Foster on the floor for Duke. They’ll have to rely on the zone to fend off Boozer, but that only means he’ll crush them from 3-point range — where the 6-foot-9 forward is lethal.

It’s hard to blame the Orange if they lose this game by a lot. Though Syracuse enters the game on a two-game winning streak, in which it played arguably its best ball of the season, contending with Boozer in a venue like Cameron Indoor is too tall a task for a team that isn’t NCAA Tournament-ready.

Justin Girshon (18-8)
“It’s Duke”
Syracuse 70, Duke 84

All Adrian Autry could do was smile when asked postgame Saturday what awaits Syracuse on Monday.

“It’s Duke,” Autry said. “It’s Duke, you know, obviously playing at their own home court. Boozer, amongst all of the other guys that they have, this will be a challenge like everyone else. We’ll get to work, we’ll put together a game plan and go down there and execute it.”

And on Monday, the Orange will see why the Blue Devils are the ACC favorites and gunning for the program’s sixth national title. Boozer is undoubtedly one of the best players in the country, while he’s surrounded by a litany of threats and/or high-quality role players in Isaiah Evans, Ngongba, Maliq Brown and Caleb Foster, among others.

Simply, Duke has too much star power for SU to contain. Doing so in Cameron Indoor Stadium makes that already daunting task even more challenging.

While I don’t see them winning this game, I do think Vegas’ spread of 20.5 points is a bit disrespectful to the Orange. They’ve played extremely tough the last two games, and while I don’t think that’ll beat out Duke’s talent, it could help them stay in the game longer than most teams do against the Blue Devils.

Published on February 15, 2026 at 10:58 pm