Syracuse defeated Virginia Tech, 82-72, at home on Wednesday. Here are some quick hits from the game:
- While Jesse Edwards had a productive stat line of 13 points and nine rebounds against Virginia Tech, he shot just 4-of-10 from the field, making it five straight games where he has made half or fewer of his shots from the field. In the last five contests, all against ACC foes, Edwards is averaging 9.4 points on 41.5 percent shooting. While he is seeing his share of double-teams, opponents have found success against Edwards by being modestly physical with him, simply nudging and crowding him after he receives the ball in the post.
- If Edwards is going to have a bounceback game, it should come Saturday against Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish had almost no interest in doing anything inside against Edwards in the first game between the two schools, as he had 22 points, 16 rebounds, and zero blocked shots. While the lack of blocked shots makes it sound like Edwards was not a defensive presence in that game, Notre Dame simply leaned on perimeter shooting the bulk of the game, taking 33 of their 60 field goal attempts from three-point range, and doing minimal work inside (they were outscored in the paint, 34-18).
- With his 24-point effort against Virginia Tech, Joe Girard III has crossed the 17-point-per-game threshold for the season again. Girard is averaging 23.8 points and four threes on 47.1 percent shooting from deep in the last four games. In the last seven games, Girard has 26 threes and is shooting 44.8 percent from deep.
- Girard now is first in the ACC in three-pointers made, fourth in three-point shooting percentage, and fifth in scoring. Edwards tops the conference in both rebounds and blocked shots while ranking second in field goal percentage. Judah Mintz leads the ACC in steals.
- While showing sticky fingers on defense, Mintz is having some ball security issues on offense in the last six games. While having just two turnovers in the four preceding games, Mintz has coughed the ball up 19 times in those last six contests.
- The Orange have shot 32.0 percent or worse from three-point range seven times this season, losing six of those games. SU is undefeated when they shoot 44.5 percent or better overall from the floor, surpassing that mark in ten games.
- A lot was deservedly made of how easily the Hokies got looks inside the paint, as 37 of their field goal attempts came in the key. Not only did they have 23 of their 29 made shots among those 37 attempts for 46 points in the paint, they also had a couple baskets that came just outside the low block.
NEXT UP
Saturday, Syracuse will close their season series with Notre Dame at the JMA Wireless Dome. The Orange (11-6, 4-2 ACC) edged the Irish (9-8, 1-5) in the first meeting during the opening weekend of December, 62-61. Jesse Edwards (22 points and 16 rebounds) and Joe Girard III (20 points) led the way for SU, while Dane Goodwin and Cormac Ryan combined for seven three-pointers and 30 points in defeat for the Irish.
Notre Dame has struggled since the first meeting between the two teams, going 3-6 in that span, but notched their first conference win on Tuesday, a 73-72 victory in overtime at home over Georgia Tech. Goodwin had 19 points and a dozen rebounds in the win while Nate Laszewski, who leads the team on the season with 13.6 points and 7.6 boards a game, had 14 points, including the game-winning foul shots with 23 seconds remaining.
Saturday’s action between Syracuse and Notre Dame is set for a 7:00pm Eastern tip-off and the ACC Network will handle television duties.
» Related: Transfers have struggled following Syracuse basketball stints
POSTGAME
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
For more Syracuse coverage, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and listen to our podcast.
