Three Point Defense: F-
The amount of wide-open threes that Syracuse gave up is just comical. Whether it was after an offensive rebound, off a screen, or just at a random point in a possession it was so easy for the Cardinals all game long. Louisville entered the game shooting the 9th most threes of any team in the country. There’s no reason that they should have gotten so many open looks. Just bad defense.
JJ Starling: D
JJ’s first half tonight was one of the worst halves of basketballs he’s ever played in Orange. SU’s leader didn’t score many points and turned it over a number of times. Starling really struggled to beat his man off the dribble and when he did, there was another Cardinal waiting for him in the paint. When Starling can’t score, there’s really no hope for this offense. He scored four in the second half but overall just a putrid performance from Starling.
The Crowd: D
Unsurprisingly, it was another very small turnout in the Dome. There were a few moments where it got loud but it’s hard to have a true atmosphere with so many empty seats. It wasn’t just the upper deck that was mostly empty too. There were more empty seats than people behind the basket opposite of the student section.
Chucky Hepburn: A++
It’s not often that we grade the opposition but Hepburn gets this A++ because of both his play and his elite name. Louisville’s star guard knocked down five threes and had five assists in just the first half. He looked like by far the best player on the floor.
Jyare Davis: B
Like the rest of the team, it’s really a shame that Jyare Davis can’t play at his highest level consistently because when he’s on, he can be a real difference-maker on the floor. He’s been a rebounding machine at times over the last few weeks but just struggles to put it all together. The Delaware transfer even made a few threes tonight but it just wasn’t enough.
