After rolling through a trio of low-major teams the Texas basketball team will step up the level of competition at the UKG Legends Classic in Brooklyn, New York.
Texas (3-1) will open the four-team event Thursday against traditional power Syracuse (3-0), now an Atlantic Coast Conference program with a deep legacy rooted in the Big East and New York City. On Friday, Texas will play either Texas Tech or St. Joseph’s.
Here’s what you need to know for Thursday’s matchup:
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Texas vs Syracuse time
Date: Thursday
Start time: 6 p.m.
Location: Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
How to watch Texas vs Syracuse
TV channel: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN, Fubo, Sling
Will Tramon Mark play for Texas?
Mark, a 6-foot-5 wing who transferred to Texas from Arkansas in the offseason, has yet to play this season after suffering an ankle injury in a scrimmage against Colorado. However, Texas coach Rodney Terry called him “day to day” on Tuesday and said he’s “in a pretty good position right now.”
“He’s moving in a much better pace than he was even a week ago,” he said. “We’re excited that the progress that he’s made to this point right now.”
Carmelo Anthony, TJ Ford part of Syracuse v Texas history
In the only previous meeting between the two teams, Syracuse beat Texas 95-84 in a NCAA national semifinal in 2003. The matchup featured luminaries for each program; future NBA all-pro and Olympian Carmelo Anthony paced Syracuse with 33 points and 14 rebounds, and All-American point guard TJ Ford had 13 assists, 12 points and four steals for the Longhorns.
Tre Johnson off to hot start
Anthony led Syracuse to the national title as a freshman in 2003, but Texas guard Tre Johnson is off to his own impressive debut. The 6-6 guard averages a team-best 23.5 points per game while converting 58.9% from the floor, including a 58.6% mark from three-point range and 78.6% on free throws.
Texas vs Syracuse prediction
Texas. The Longhorns faced off against a tournament-level team in Ohio State in a season-opening loss, but the Orange had played lightweights such as Colgate, Le Moyne and Youngstown State. The defensive pressure on the perimeter by Texas will be enough to pick up the win against a Power Five nonconference foe.
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas vs Syracuse: TV, time, prediction, game, betting info
