GAME NOTES: The Syracuse Orange will take the court on Saturday for the first time since learning of their postseason ban, as they battle the Pittsburgh Panthers in ACC action at Petersen Events Center.

On Wednesday, Syracuse self-imposed the penalty on its men's basketball team as part of its case pending with the NCAA. The ban will keep the Orange out of this year's ACC tournament and would also prevent them from playing in the NCAA Tournament. Syracuse has played in the NCAA tourney the last six seasons. The school said the case was initiated because it self-reported potential violations within the athletics department to the NCAA back in 2007. None of the conduct involved in the case occurred after 2012, and no current student- athletes are involved, according to the university.

Syracuse, which is 6-3 in conference play, snapped a two-game skid with a 72-70 home triumph over Virginia Tech on Tuesday. Michael Gbinije sank a jumper in the paint with one second remaining.

Pittsburgh has won its last two contests, but is coming off a lackluster 72-67 victory over Bryant on Monday.

The Orange have won the last three encounters in the longstanding rivalry, which for many seasons took place in the Big East. These teams will meet in two weeks at the Carrier Dome.

Gbinije finished with 18 points and seven assists, while Trevor Cooney also tallied 18 points in Syracuse's win over the Hokies. Rakeem Christmas notched a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Tyler Roberson grabbed 11 boards of his own.

Christmas (18.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg), who has made 100 consecutive starts, has scored in double figures in 21 of 22 games. He's third in the conference in field goal percentage (.582). Cooney (14.9 ppg) has averaged an ACC-best 3.22 made 3-pointers in conference games only. Gbinije (11.3 ppg) is shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc. Freshman guard Kaleb Joseph (4.6 apg) is among the top-10 in assists in the ACC.

The Panthers trailed by six points early in the second half against Bryant, but with the help of Jamel Artis and Michael Young, Pittsburgh prevailed. The frontcourt combined for 42 of Pitt's 72 points and 17 of the squad's 30 rebounds. Artis, who had a career-best 32 points, tallied 14 of Pitt's 17 points during a span immediately after the Panthers were behind 41-35. When the smoke cleared following the flurry from Artis, the hosts were up 52-44. Pittsburgh ended the contest on an 8-1 run.

Young (13.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and Artis (12.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg) lead the way for the Panthers. Junior guard James Robinson (10.1 ppg, 5.1 apg) has started all 23 games with Young and Artis.

This will be the first time since the 2007-08 season that both programs enter their matchup unranked. The Panthers are 11-2 at home this season, and one week ago took down No. 8 Notre Dame. Expect Young and Artis to have their way offensively against a team that will be left out of the postseason.