A quick take on Syracuse’s 46-57 loss to Georgetown on Saturday in front of an NCAA on-campus record 35,012 in attendance:
WHAT HAPPENED: In what could be the final meeting in the Dome between these two teams, the record-setting crowd was treated to the expected defensive slugfest that managed to be thrilling in spite of the low score. But the crowd went home disappointed as the Orange came up short, snapping the longest home winning streak in the country in the process.
» What did you think of SU’s performance?
ANALYSIS: Neither team let abysmal outside shooting dissuade them from jacking up 3s, and while the lead went back and forth neither team could get any separation until Otto Porter helped the Hoyas claw their way in front midway through the second half. The Orange’s bad habits came back to bite them on offense, and their defense couldn’t do enough to slow down the Hoyas, especially the one-man wrecking crew that was Porter.
HERO: The Orange had no answer for likely 2013 lottery pick Porter, who torched Syracuse inside and out, scoring 33 points on 12-19 shooting, a jaw-dropping number given the slow pace and low score of this game. Porter also hit the glass hard (8 rebounds) and used his length to pick up 5 steals.
For Syracuse, Mr. Consistent CJ Fair turned in another solid performance with 13 points and 7 boards, but it wasn’t enough, and he didn’t get a lot of help.
» Related: Concern for MCW’s drop-off in assists?
ZERO: Brandon Triche played a bad game, scoring 10 points on 4-13 shooting while turning the ball over 4 times, but no play was more costly than his foul of Porter on a closeout with 5 minutes to go, giving the Hoyas a 4-point play and an 8 point advantage just as the Orange had made things close.
Michael Carter-Williams, SU’s own presumptive lottery pick, had his moments, but overall he was mediocre, scoring 6 points with 5 assists. Jim Boeheim has said over and over that the Orange needs its backcourt to play well in order to win. That didn’t happen tonight.
WHAT’S NEXT: The Orange have a short turnaround, heading to Wisconsin to take on Marquette on Monday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. TV: ESPN.
For more Syracuse coverage, Like our Facebook page and follow us @TheJuiceOnline.
