Syracuse has struggled to open games all season, so it was no surprise to see the Orange fall behind early, with Wake Forest racing out to an early 17-2 lead in the first four minutes.
And yet, this game was winnable. Syracuse held a one-point lead with 11 minutes to go after trailing the entire first half, but the same mistakes that have plagued the Orange all season hampered them down the stretch.
Syracuse has now lost three of their last four games, some more ugly than others, and are now below .500 at 5-6 heading into ACC play.
Syracuse in the First Four Minutes: D
Too many times this season, Syracuse has put itself in an early hole. It was more of the same against Wake Forest, as the Demon Deacons scored at will in the paint in the game’s first four minutes, throwing down two alley-oops for four of their first eight points. The Orange didn’t have an answer on the other end and trailed 17-2 before settling into the game, and that large deficit is likely why they trailed for the entire first half despite a marked improvement after the brutal start. Syracuse picked up its defensive effort and found more consistency on offense to trail by just two heading into halftime, which is why this grade isn’t a D. Still, it would have been nice to see that quality of play over the entire first half. With matchups against tougher ACC rivals like Florida State ahead, the Orange can’t afford to come out of the gates looking so sluggish.
Kyle Cuffe Jr. and Lucas Taylor: A+
Kyle Cuffe scored a career-high 14 points in this one, with 13 coming in the first half. Cuffe kept the Orange in the game with his hustle and aggressiveness early on, ending with a game-high 11 free-throw attempts. He struggled from the field but made 9 free throws and grabbed 6 rebounds while being the first to multiple loose balls. His energy was the catalyst that allowed Syracuse to get back into the game, and it’s why head coach Adrian Autry played him the entire second half.
Lucas Taylor also played the entire second half for Syracuse, likely because he was the only player for the Orange to make multiple three-pointers(more on that below). He ended with 16 points, made three of his seven three-point attempts, and pulled down five rebounds. It was the first time Taylor has scored in double figures all season, and he’s now shot 53% from deep over his last three games, something Syracuse will hope he continues with Starling still out.
Turnovers, Three-Point Shooting, and Late Game Execution: F
Pick your poison here. Despite the strong performances from Cuffe and Taylor, the Orange didn’t show any improvement in the areas that have hurt them all season. Syracuse turned the ball over 18 times, which the Demon Deacons scored 14 points off of, and they again lost the three-point battle. Wake Forest came into this one shooting 27% from deep but hit 9 three-pointers on a 47% clip, while Syracuse players not named Lucas Taylor combined to shoot 13% from beyond the arc. That lack of spacing hurt the Orange when the Demon Deacons started to clog up Syracuse’s driving lanes in the paint, and Syracuse went cold down the stretch.
The Orange dropped to 13th in the conference with the loss, now one of three teams in the ACC with a losing record. Syracuse hasn’t beaten a power-five team all season, and if the Orange play how it did against the Demon Deacons, it’s unlikely that win will come against the 9-4 Seminoles.
