Syracuse’s main problem in the 2013 campaign continues to haunt SU in its 2014 season. Last year, the Orange won just 42 percent of faceoffs, and that bugaboo hurt the Orange again on Saturday.
With the game tied and 11:20 to play, #12 Virginia delivered a knockout punch in the form of a 20-5 run, sending #4 Syracuse to their third loss in four games on Saturday, this one coming on the road by a 75-56 margin.
Syracuse and Virginia played to a 40-40 stalemate with 13:55 left in the game. But Virginia completely took control from there, using a 9-2 run punctuated by a London Perrantes 3-pointer with 8:46 left to give Virginia a 49-42 lead.
This game is likely to be a low-scoring, defensive slugfest. KenPom ranks Virginia fourth in adjusted defensive efficiency at 89.5 (D-1 average is 104.5), while the Orange are at 92.4, good for ninth in the NCAA.
The same faceoff woes that plagued Syracuse throughout 2013—especially in the championship game loss to Duke—are threatening to wreck the Orange’s latest campaign.
Business-related events have taken Orange Watch to this city along Tobacco Road on numerous occasions over the years, but we had missed out on attending a game at Cameron until the Orange joined the ACC this season.
Just three weeks ago, Syracuse was at the apex of the college basketball mountain. Undefeated. Ranked #1 in the country. Coming off an epic win over Duke at the Carrier Dome.
Monday night, they tried as hard as they could to give away a game, but #4 Syracuse failed to do so, holding on for a 57-55 victory at Maryland, snapping their two game slide.