The Orange returned to the JMA Dome after a rough 81-73 loss at Boston College last weekend, a game in which SU truly threw the game away with 18 total turnovers. SU welcomed a Virginia Tech squad in a similar record position: Both the ‘Cuse and the Hokies needed resume-builders. It was a tight game that had some stretches of flash and struggle alike, but Virginia Tech came out victorious.
- Nate Kingz is holding Syracuse together
Kingz, a transfer portal pickup from Oregon State, has been the two-way guard/forward combo that has kept SU in multiple games this season. He ended the game with 11 points and 3/6 from three-point land and was able to be an asset in switches on taller VT forwards. He was HC Adrian Autry’s strongest offseason addition, and conference play has only confirmed it.
2. Another rough game for freshman Kiyan Anthony
Anthony ended the night with five points on 1/5 shooting. It was his fourth consecutive game with single digit points. The true freshman is still in the developing phase, but his inefficiency is hurting the rest of the offense His minutes have also dwindled (Hasn’t played 20 or more minutes in 2026). Anthony needs a confidence booster soon to be ready for this continued ACC stretch.
3. Syracuse must continue to work the ball inside
While Freeman has continued to display that he can be a stretch player for the Orange, his best stretches are crashing the paint and either getting a basket or forcing opposing defenses to foul. Getting to the paint also makes the Kyle lobs more feasible. SU scored 32 points in the paint against a lengthy Virginia Tech team: imagine what that number could be against one of the lesser ACC defenses?
4. So close, but SU must close out games
Syracuse was neck-and-neck with Virginia Tech all night: there were multiple lead changes and equal “Runs” made by both squads. However, the Orange led by 10 points at one juncture in the contest. This is the second consecutive game where the ‘Cuse let a lead slip and let go of a conference win that it desperately needed ahead of playing ranked opponents such as Duke, North Carolina, and Louisville. As the saying goes, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
Syracuse next hosts Miami on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Hurricanes are 15-4 (4th in ACC), sitting on the bubble of the NCAA tournament according to ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi.
It’s starting to enter “Must win” territory for Syracuse men’s basketball.
