Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.

STORRS, Conn. — The most daunting task in collegiate basketball awaits Syracuse on Monday.

After picking up an elusive second Quad 1 win over No. 8 seed Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Sunday, Syracuse earned a matchup against top overall seed UConn. The second best offense in the country, best defense in the country, reigning national champions that haven’t lost a game in more than a year UConn. That UConn.

Playing the Huskies on the road at Gampel Pavilion is a task few teams are ever up for. But coming off an invigorating win Saturday, the Orange are hot.

Here’s how our beat writers think No. 9 seed Syracuse (24-8, 12-6 ACC) will fare against No. 1 seed UConn (35-0, 20-0 Big East) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament:

Jordan Kimball
Once in a blue moon
Syracuse 56, UConn 76

Moments before Syracuse took on Iowa State in Gampel Pavilion Saturday, I watched Sarah Strong and top-ranked UConn trounce No. 16 seed UTSA 90-52. Strong put together her 48th straight performance in double figures, and the Huskies, who haven’t lost a game since Feb. 6, 2025, kept their perfect season intact. For UConn, a 38-point win is customary. The Huskies had won by that margin or more 18 other times this year.

Then, Syracuse trotted out, and with all odds against it, held off a late comeback to take down No. 8 seed Iowa State 72-63. Olivia Schmitt knocked down five 3s in the second quarter, and Journey Thompson hauled in a career-high 13 rebounds. SU’s performance was what March Madness is all about. Anything can truly happen.

However, the Orange’s showing happens once in a blue moon. SU entered Saturday 1-7 in Quad 1 games and hadn’t beaten a team that was top 40 in the NET Rankings. ISU was ranked No. 33. I wouldn’t go as far as to say Syracuse’s performance was luck, but I do think its March Madness run ends Monday back in Gampel.

A team like UConn is used to the noise, the pressure and the expectations that come with the NCAA Tournament. SU head coach Felisha Legette-Jack, conversely, said the Orange have been working in the dark because of minimal expectations. When over 10,000 people pack into Storrs to cheer on the Huskies on Monday, that work in the dark won’t pay off.

Syracuse finally has that big win and has proven its turnaround wasn’t a regular-season fluke. But there’s no team in college better than UConn, and unless SU finds a way to repeat its performance from Saturday, the Orange’s magical season will come to a close.

Mauricio Palmar
The road ends here
Syracuse 61, UConn 88

I’m not too stubborn to admit it. Syracuse proved me wrong.

On Wednesday, I penned a column arguing that SU’s lack of depth would lead to its demise in March Madness. The Orange were down their starting point guard, Dominique Darius, and Syracuse had only three players averaging at least six points per game. While that trio is averaging double-digit point totals, I reasoned that — unless Syracuse found some production from secondary options — it was doomed to suffer an early exit in March.

I’ve caught flak from all different directions since that column, especially after SU made me look like a fool after defeating Iowa State to advance to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Schmitt, in particular, looked like a brand-new player in a second quarter where she ignited for five triples and a career-high 15 points.

This team is good. They belong in March. There’s no doubt about it.

But good can only take you so far against UConn. I’d give SU a better chance against just about any other team in the country, so it’s unfortunate the Orange had to run into the buzzsaw that is the Huskies so early in their burgeoning March run. Regrettably, the unenviable task of stopping Geno Auriemma’s juggernaut awaits.

Good luck to them. They’ve already made me look like an idiot several times over. But frankly, I’d be even more of an idiot to bet against this UConn squad.

Harris Pemberton
Story ends in Storrs
Syracuse 62, UConn 86

About a week ago, I argued that, while Syracuse’s turnaround has been nothing short of remarkable, the Orange were still lacking a true statement win. March would be the perfect time to get one. And, boy, did they get one Saturday night.

The three of us have watched a lot of Syracuse women’s basketball this year. But I don’t recall myself ever having the reaction I had during the second quarter against Iowa State. Sitting on press row in Gampel Pavilion, watching Schmitt drill 3 after 3, I think my jaw dropped about five times. But performances like Schmitt’s are what March is all about.

So are crazy upsets. Syracuse gets the chance at a program-defining one Monday night. UConn hasn’t lost a game in over a year and is hunting its second straight national title. No team has beaten the Huskies this year — and that’ll be even harder in their home stadium.

This is the most impressed I’ve been with the Orange all season. They finally have the type of dominant performance against a Quad 1 opponent that makes me think they could really go on a run. It’s just unfortunate the road leads to UConn.

As much as I want to believe SU can pull off a stunning upset, I’d be naive to think the Huskies and Auriemma would let that happen on their home court in March. UConn possesses the best defense in the nation. Jordan and I watched them full-court press UTSA into the abyss on Saturday afternoon, holding the Roadrunners to just 14 first-half points. While SU will surely be better than that, the Huskies have too much talent and balance for the Orange to overcome.

ESPN has the line at UConn by 36.5 right now. While I think that’s a bit disrespectful to Syracuse, I don’t anticipate it hanging within single digits for most of this game. SU’s season will end at the hands of a worthy opponent — one who may lift the trophy in less than a month.

Published on March 22, 2026 at 11:01 pm