Syracuse’s Atlantic Coast Conference schedule starts at the top with No. 1 North Carolina.

Despite SU’s historical newness to the ACC, the Orange and the Tar Heels have developed an often season-deciding rivalry. SU seniors like Lauren Brooks have faced UNC five times in their career. If No. 5 Syracuse (6-0) wins Friday at 5 p.m. in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, it will set the Orange up nicely for the postseason, when SU is likely to meet No. 1 UNC (6-0) again.

“I love playing UNC,” Brooks said. “I love playing really good teams. I think it’s just a challenge for us and just helps us grow as a team and become a better team.”

In SU’s last year in the Big East, it defeated the Tar Heels in the regular season before UNC exacted revenge, 6-1, in the final four of the NCAA tournament.

Last season, the Tar Heels defeated the Orange in the semifinals of the ACC tournament after SU prevailed in the regular season. Brooks enjoys going up against opponents that present the type of challenges North Carolina does.

UNC will be the first of many difficult ACC opponents this year, as the conference boasts four of the top five teams in the country, and six of the teams in the top 10 come from the conference.

“You have to look at it as it’s your first conference game,” said head coach Ange Bradley. “You want to be able to get the bye in the conference because that tournament is grueling. I think we just prepare and it’s about Syracuse getting better right now and we have a lot of things to work on.”

The team with the best record at the end of the regular season gets a bye to the semifinals of the ACC tournament. The bye makes every ACC regular season game that much more important — especially since the members play each other just once before the playoffs.

With 10 freshmen on the roster, SU struggled in its home opener against Albany last weekend. Bradley said the team’s nerves affected its play as it barely escaped with a win.

One of those freshman already playing a huge role for the team is Netherlands native Lieke Visser, who currently leads the team in assists with nine. Visser said nerves could again be a factor in the game against UNC.

“I’m nervous for that, of course,” Visser said. “But it’s very exciting.”

And while the game has postseason implications, Bradley is grounding the matchup in the regular season.

“Chances are real good we’ll see North Carolina in the ACC tournament and if we’re fortunate, postseason,” Bradley said. “It’s about November, not September.”

Published on September 11, 2014 at 12:01 am

Contact Ryan: rlraigro@syr.edu