Syracuse leading scorer Tyus Battle did not play in the team's ACC second-round victory over Pittsburgh on Wednesday due to a bruised hip suffered over the weekend.
Coach Jim Boeheim said after the game that the team had hoped Battle would be ready to play against Pitt, but he showed up at the arena with a sore back -- and Boeheim said Battle is probably "still two or three days away'' from being able to play.
Battle, a junior guard, leads the Orange with 17.2 points in 36.3 minutes per game. He was hurt against Clemson on Saturday.
Battle was fantastic in the first game against Pitt this season, with 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting. He struggled in the second meeting, going just 2-of-13 from the floor and scoring only six points. Frank Howard and Oshae Brissett scored in double figures in both of Syracuse's regular-season wins against Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh outrebounded the Orange in both of those meetings.
Syracuse will now play No. 5 Duke in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
