GAME NOTES: After notching a signature victory over a nationally-ranked opponent earlier this week, the Syracuse Orange look to serve up some revenge on Saturday afternoon when they host Pittsburgh in an Atlantic Coast Conference clash at the Carrier Dome.

Pitt claimed an 83-77 victory over Syracuse when these teams first met up a couple of weekends ago at the Petersen Events Center. Still, the Orange lead the all-time series between these former Big East Conference foes, 65-40.

The Orange will enter Saturday's rematch with plenty of confidence after taking down No. 12 Louisville on Wednesday, 69-59. But having lost four of their previous six games, the Orange will need a strong finish in order to boost their NCAA Tournament chances, or that victory won't carry much weight come Selection Sunday. The Orange will wrap up a three-game homestand with Saturday's tilt.

Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is looking to rebound from Monday's 61-49 setback at 2nd-ranked Virginia. The Panthers had won four of five prior to that outcome as they remain a game below .500 in league play.

In Monday's loss, the Panthers cut a 10-point deficit down to three with just under eight minutes to play in regulation. However, Virginia answered with an 8-0 run of its own to end the threat. The Panthers shot just 38.6 percent from the floor in putting up 49 points against UVA's top-ranked scoring defense, although their 9-of-17 effort at the foul line had little to do with the Cavaliers.

Jamel Artis (13.0 ppg) shot 4-of-8 from beyond the arc and finished with a game-high 20 points and eight rebounds in the loss. Sheldon Jeter was the only other player in double figures for Pitt as he finished with 10 points and six boards. Michael Young, the team's second-leading scorer and top rebounder on the season (12.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg), was held scoreless and had three turnovers in 21 minutes of floor time.

Syracuse turned the tables in the second half against Louisville earlier this week. The Orange shot just 39 percent from the floor in the opening frame while the Cardinals shot 54 percent. Syracuse improved to 58 percent in the second stanza while Louisville was held to 32 percent. Rakeem Christmas (18.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg) was a big part of that turnaround as he scored 18 of his game- high 29 points after halftime and finished 9-of-10 from the field to go with four blocks and two steals.

Michael Gbinije (13.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg) added 18 points and six assists, and Tyler Roberson (7.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg) tallied 13 points and nine boards in the win. That trio, which comprises Syracuse's starting frontcourt, accounted for 60 of the team's 69 points. Defensively, the Orange limited Louisville to only four field goals in the final 10 minutes.

Syracuse is undoubtedly out to prove that Wednesday's victory was not too little, too late as far as the team's postseason prospects go. In terms of a recent common opponent between these two squads, note that Pitt lost by 13 at Louisville last Wednesday.