The Syracuse University men's basketball team faces a stiff test on Tuesday night against No. 13 Tennessee at the JMA Wireless Dome. The game is part of the ACC/SEC challenge and will air at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2. 

The Orange (4-3) have lost three straight games, losing all three in the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas before Thanksgiving. The Volunteers are 7-1 and went 2-1 in the same event, only losing to perennial power Kansas.

It's a huge game for Syracuse, both in terms of stopping the negative momentum and in trying to gain at least one solid victory for their NCAA Tournament resume. So far, all of Syracuse's wins are against low and mid-major competition.

The Orange will be playing without big man Donnie Freeman for the fourth straight game, making things even more difficult. The sophomore is averaging nearly 18 ppg, leading the team. 

How can Syracuse pull the upset? Here's three keys to the game:

Defensive intensity 

Even without Freeman, the Orange are long, athletic and quick. Head coach Adrian Autry has preached defensive tenacity, and this team has played with it all season.

They took No. 3 Houston to overtime in game one of the Players Era Championship, and they were within two of Kansas with six minutes to play in game two. Their athleticism allows them to make opponents uncomfortable, and they'll need it against the Volunteers.

Free-throw shooting

We say this every game. If the Orange are going to win big games - and close games - they have to be able to hit their free-throws. Syracuse is dead-last in the NCAA in free-throw percentage at 57.1 percent.

That's 361-of-361. You aren't going to win many big games like that. If the Orange are going to be the kind of team they want to be, then that has to change.

They went just 12-of-29 in that loss to Houston and it cost them dearly.

Veterans needs to step up

The Orange have been starting freshman Sadiq White Jr. in Freeman's absence, and they give significant minutes to freshmen Kiyan Anthony and Tyler Betsey, but if they are going to win this game? They'll need more from their veterans.

William Kyle III is an excellent interior player who is valued for his defense and rebounding. Can he score more than the 9.9 ppg he's averaging? JJ Starling averaged 17.8 ppg last season, but is at 8.4 this year as he works back from an early-season injury. Will this be the game he goes for 20?

Senior Nate Kingz is only averaging 8.1. 

The Orange will need bigger performances on Tuesday night, simply put.

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