A quick take on Syracuse’s 59-44 loss to Virginia on Saturday afternoon at the Carrier Dome:
WHAT HAPPENED: After Tyus Battle’s jumper pulled Syracuse to within 20-18 with 7:36 left in the first half, the Cavaliers immediately responded with an 11-0 run to take a 31-18 lead with 1:29 before intermission. Virginia took complete control midway through the second half with a 12-0 run capped by a Jack Salt jumper at the 9:06 mark. That made it 48-27, and the Orange never got closer than 13 the rest of the way.
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ANALYSIS: Syracuse came into Saturday averaging just 69.2 points per game, which ranked 284th in the NCAA. Meanwhile, Virginia came in as the nation’s top defensive team, giving up just 52.7 points per game. The game played out exactly along those lines, with the Cavaliers stymieing the Orange, who shot just 33.3 percent from the field and 4-21 from downtown. Meanwhile, Virginia showed plenty of offensive discipline, assisting on 19 of its 23 field goals.
HERO: Deandre Hunter led a balanced Virginia attack with 15 points and six assists. He was one of six Cavs players with six points or more. Tyus Battle led the Orange with 15 points, though he shot 6-17 from the field.
ZERO: Oshae Brissett and Frank Howard combined with 7-28 shooting from the field and 2 for 13 from beyond the arc.
WHAT’S NEXT: Oshae Brissett and Frank Howard combined with 7-28 shooting from the field and 2 for 13 from beyond the arc.
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