These Two Factors Are Holding Syracuse Basketball Back
What is going on with Syracuse basketball?
After a 69-64 loss to Notre Dame, the Orange look out of sorts, can’t make free throws, and can’t find the ocean from long-range. There are some serious issues with this team, and problems that can’t be fixed overnight.
So where do we start?
Let’s take a dive into the free throws first. The Orange once again shot abysmal 67% by converting 16-for-24 shots at the charity stripe. SU remains with the worst free-throw percentage in the ACC at 68% on the season.
Next up, the three-point shooting has been absolutely pathetic.
So pathetic, that Syracuse didn’t make a triple in the entire game. That’s right. SU had 40 minutes to drain a ball from long-range, and it failed to do it.
Now, it didn’t impact the entirety of the game, but the fact that a basketball team can’t make a three-pointer in this day in age is unheard of. The funny thing is… Syracuse made zero three-pointers and Notre Dame made eight. That’s a 24-point differential, and this contest was still only a five-point difference.
That’s gotta get fixed. Again, the three-point shooting is bottom of the ACC at 26%. The shot selection hasn’t always been awesome, but even the open shots aren’t getting hit from outside.
Forward Chris Bell isn’t the problem. Syracuse can rely on him to make baskets from downtown. And he’s doing so. Maybe not to the extent as last year when he shot a ridiculous 42%, but Bell has still made 29% of his three-point tries. Expect this number to climb in the near future.
Overall, SU is in a rough spot. This team has to fix these issues going forward or else Syracuse is in deep trouble heading into the rest of conference play.
Good thing the Orange don’t play any ACC opponents for the next few games.
