Derek Dixon's strong start boosts North Carolina to three straight wins, while Syracuse remains competitive despite a losing record.

Freshman point guard Derek Dixon has energized No. 16 North Carolina since starting following a loss at Stanford, contributing 41 points, 15 assists, and just five turnovers in four starts while shooting 47.6% from three. His impact helped the Tar Heels win three straight, including a 91-75 victory at Georgia Tech where key players showed improved form. Syracuse, coming off an 86-72 win over Notre Dame, has shown resilience with Nate Kingz scoring a career-high 28 points and J.J. Starling adding 21. Coach Adrian Autry made a strategic decision to bench top scorer Donnie Freeman, who had a quiet game. Despite a losing record, Syracuse has lost four of five ACC games by single digits.