Syracuse (10-4, 0-1 Atlantic Coast) is already seeing how trying conference play is going to be.

Fresh off a 72-61 loss to Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center on Wednesday, the Orange will travel to face No. 13 Miami (11-1) at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. It will be the Hurricanes’ first ACC game of the season and first power-five game since they beat Florida on Dec. 8. SU is 2-0 against ranked opponents this season, but losses to Wisconsin, Georgetown and St. John’s are more indicative of its chances of upsetting the Hurricanes.

Here’s what you need to know about Miami heading into the matchup.

All-time series: 16-6 in Syracuse’s favor

 Last time they played: Miami beat the Orange, 66-62, in the Carrier Dome last season. Michael Gbinije, Trevor Cooney, Rakeem Christmas and Tyler Roberson all played 40 minutes for the Orange, and Christmas led SU with 23 points while Roberson posted 10 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. The Hurricanes were paced by 13 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks from Tonye Jekiri, who still anchors their frontcourt.

Miami report: While the Hurricanes won back-to-back games against then-No. 16 Utah and then-No. 22 Butler in November, its only loss came against Northeastern five nights after they beat the Bulldogs. But that’s the only blemish for a team that has boasted one of the best offenses in the country so far this season. Miami ranks seventh in the country in kenpom.com’s adjusted offensive efficiency, its 58.1 effective field-goal percentage ranks sixth and 41.2 team 3-point-shooting percentage ranks 16th. The list of gaudy offensive rankings goes on, and the Hurricanes have gotten there with a four-out offense that pairs talented guards with Jekiri. All of Sheldon McClellan (15.4), Angel Rodriguez (12.5), Ja’Quan Newton (11.8) and Davon Reed (10.6) average in double-figures and Jekiri is averaging 9.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Miami is also one of the most experienced teams in the ACC, and also has nine players averaging at least 13 minutes per game.

How Syracuse beats Miami: Aside from playing sound defense — most importantly keeping the Hurricanes out of the cracks of the zone to limit open 3s — the Orange could put itself in line for an upset if it keeps Miami off the foul line. That would also mean its players are out of foul trouble, which was a big problem against Pittsburgh when Dajuan Coleman fouled out in crunch time. In Miami’s loss to Northeastern, the Hurricanes shot just 7-of-9 free throws and is otherwise averaging 25.1 free-throw attempts per game. The Hurricanes’ team free-throw percentage of 77.4 ranks sixth in the country and 22.8 percent of its total scoring has come at the line, which is tied for the sixth highest clip among ACC teams according to Kenpom. A lot has to go right for SU to be competing late in this game, but limiting Miami’s free-throw attempts, and its own fouls in the process, would be a big help.

Stat to know: Five-foot-11 point guard Angel Rodriguez is a perimeter threat shooting 35.8 percent from 3, but he’s also great at creating his own shot at the rim. According to Hoop-Math.com, Rodriguez has made 22 field goals at the rim this season and none of them have been assisted on. Syracuse’s zone is completely broken down when guards get inside and draw the center away from the rim, and Rodriguez is the kind of shifty guard that is able to do that.

 Player to watch: He’s not considered one of Miami’s “core” players, but 6-foot-10 senior Ivan Cruz Uceda has been highly efficient in 18.4 minutes per game this season. Cruz Uceda shot 3-for-3 from the field and 2-for-2 from 3 in the Hurricanes’ most game — a 76-64 win over Princeton on Tuesday — and is shooting a team-best 56.1 percent (23-for-41) from beyond the arc this season. The big man is only being used on 14.1 percent of possessions when he’s in the game, according to Kenpom, but he’s a surprise candidate to hurt the Orange by working in and out of the high post and using his tall frame to shoot over guards from the perimeter.

Published on December 31, 2015 at 7:47 pm

Contact Jesse: jcdoug01@syr.edu | @dougherty_jesse