On February 2nd, a 32-point North Carolina lead over Syracuse was whittled down over the last seven minutes of the game. With under a minute to go, the Orange had cut the lead to six points. UNC finished with a 10-point win that did not reflect the game as a whole.
Allowing Syracuse back into the game after such a massive lead is just another example of the team’s inconsistency in effort. After the historic loss to NC State, head coach Hubert Davis emphasized the need for “competitive spirit,” noting
that regardless of who is available, the effort on the court must improve. That competitive spirit has been severely lacking on the road. UNC is 3-5 away from home this season, a frustrating record considering this team’s talent.
Against this opponent, it is particularly concerning, given that Carolina coughed up that huge lead against Syracuse in Chapel Hill. And this time, the Heels will not have Caleb Wilson — and barring any changes, Henri Veesaar — to help prevent them from blowing a lead.
The Orange have won most of their games this season inside the JMA Wireless Dome, including wins over Tennessee and SMU.
In a battle of orange squads, the Syracuse defense forced 17 Volunteer turnovers, creating a 24-10 advantage in points off turnovers and a 9-0 edge in fast-break points. Six blocks from William Kyle III were a career high and helped contain the Tennessee frontcourt.
Syracuse pulled off their most dramatic home win of the season just a few days ago, erasing double-digit deficits in both halves to stun the Mustangs. The Orange struggled on the defensive glass, allowing 27 second-chance points. Syracuse’s largest deficit was 12 points, and they were down as much as a dozen with six minutes left in the first half and five minutes into the second half.
In a very similar manner as against Carolina, Syracuse locked down on defense, holding SMU to just 3-of-14 shooting and nine total points during the final eight minutes of the game. The Mustangs’ final points were scored with 2:43 left in the game, and the Orange pulled off the one-point win with just two seconds remaining.
Although inconsistent, Syracuse has shown flashes of defensive toughness and offensive flexibility.
The focus tomorrow must be on Donnie Freeman. The 6’9” forward led all scorers in the first matchup between these teams, dropping 23 points. His ability to stretch the floor was on display, going two-of-four from beyond the arc and hitting five shots from the paint.
Without Wilson and Veesaar, Freeman and Kyle will get plenty of touches in the Syracuse frontcourt.
The struggles of the Carolina backcourt are well-documented. Effort has been an issue, but decision-making on the offensive end has been just as big a concern.
There is, hopefully, nowhere else to go but up after the abysmal shooting performance on Tuesday night. UNC’s offensive efficiency takes a noticeable hit in the half-court without Wilson drawing double-teams, and the poor shot selection, especially in losses on the road, throws the entire offense into a tailspin.
Jarin Stevenson and Zayden High must be a part of the offensive game plan, not just janitors cleaning up shots from the guards. Improvement is needed in the half-court sets, and Syracuse will be aggressive on the perimeter. The Orange ranks in the bottom half of the ACC in two-point defense and transition defense. If the Tar Heel guards can force turnovers and initiate fast breaks, Carolina can have one less thing to worry about with Syracuse’s half-court defense.
Without Wilson and Veesaar, the success of the Tar Heels hinges on the play of the guards. Let’s see if the backcourt can redeem themselves after a poor performance.
