The Syracuse Orange dropped another game on Saturday losing 72-59 at Virginia. With their 6th loss in the last 7 games, the Orange are crashing into the final weeks of the season, so let’s look at takeaways from Saturday afternoon:
Not having a gameplan
Virginia entered the matchup as the third-best offensive rebounding team in the country, which made controlling the glass a clear point of emphasis for Syracuse.
In theory, that should have meant strong box-outs, physical interior play, and limiting
Virginia’s ability to generate easy second-chance points. Instead, Syracuse struggled to impose itself on the boards from the opening tip.
The Orange allowed 17 offensive rebounds, continuously giving Virginia extra possessions and disrupting any defensive momentum they might have created.
Those breakdowns proved costly, as the Cavaliers consistently turned second-chance opportunities into points and extended key possessions.
Over the course of the game, the rebounding disparity quietly tilted the balance of control toward Virginia and played a major role in Syracuse’s inability to keep the score within reach.
Lack of bench production
Syracuse’s lack of bench scoring was an issue in Saturday’s loss, as the Orange received just seven total points from their reserves. When starter Donnie Freeman struggled to find his rhythm, Syracuse needed an offensive spark from its second unit, and it never came.
The inability to generate scoring outside the starting lineup allowed Virginia to key in defensively and maintain control for long stretches of the game.
At the same time, the bench concerns were magnified by a noteworthy rotation decision, as Kiyan Anthony did not play for the first time this season. Head coach Adrian Autry said postgame that the decision was purely a coaching one, but the move inevitably raised questions given Syracuse’s offensive struggles.
With limited production from role players and a shortened rotation, the Orange lacked flexibility and energy, making it difficult to respond when Virginia went on runs.
Inability to adjust
Virginia controlled the tempo from the opening tip and never really let Syracuse get comfortable. The Cavaliers forced the Orange into a slow, grind-it-out half-court game, which played right into their hands.
Syracuse struggled to push the pace or find easy transition opportunities, giving Virginia’s defense time to get set and take away driving lanes and clean looks from the outside.
As the shot clock wound down on possession after possession, Syracuse was often left settling for tough, late-clock shots.
Adding to the frustration, the Cavaliers used a full-court press throughout the game, and it caused problems all afternoon. Donnie Freeman, in particular, had difficulty inbounding the ball at times, and it frequently felt like Syracuse was reacting instead of dictating.
Even when the Orange managed to put together brief scoring runs, Virginia stayed composed and answered with timely baskets.
What are your takeaways from the Orange’s sixth loss in their last seven games?
