Syracuse Basketball Loses to Pitt 66-52

For the second straight game, Syracuse basketball lost by 14 points to an ACC foe when they needed a victory to pad their tournament resume.

And for the second straight game, Syracuse basketball was manhandled down the stretch and destroyed on the glass. By the end of the game, Syracuse was out-rebounded 40-20. Yes, you read that right. They doubled us on the boards, and that right there is why they won.

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Bottom line, Syracuse was once again out-muscled and out-hustled. If it weren’t for Tyler Lydon and his 21 points, the game wouldn’t even have been close. Even with him it was still a 14 point loss.

The sad part is, the game was tied at 45 with under six minutes to play. Syracuse, despite being crushed on the glass, were in the game. But thanks to horrific shooting, a few turnovers, and some very poor defending, Pitt went on a 21-7 run to end the game. I feel like a broken record saying this. How many times has it been this year where Syracuse has been in the game until the end, only to choke it away? Oh wait, the answer is all of them.

Every single game this year, Syracuse basketball has been within striking distance with five or less minutes left in the game. And other than against Duke and Georgia Tech, every single time the Orange have folded like a house of cards. Talk about frustrating as a fan, coach, or player.

The difference in this game was hustle. Pitt played 40 minutes of hustling basketball, Syracuse did not. Syracuse had spurts where they played with intensity and passion, but they had even longer spurts where they played passive and sat and watched. Gbinije, Cooney, Richardson, and Roberson all were guilty of playing flat footed. As I mentioned in the four keys to the game, that would be their downfall if it occurred. It did, and SU lost, big time.

Honestly, right now I’m just thoroughly disgusted with this team. After really stepping up and playing their hearts out, they have looked timid and scared these last two games. They got hit in the mouth and never recovered either time. And now, they are squarely back on the bubble.

With three games left, they have very little opportunity to impress the NCAA tournament committee. A home game against NC State looms next. Should they lose that, their tournament hopes will be all but dashed. Should they win, they have to travel to UNC and FSU to close out the season. Based on size alone, it will be nearly impossible to win at UNC. FSU on the road will be no picnic.

Next: SU Basketball Dominated by Louisville

This game was as close to a must win as I can remember for the Orange, and they completely choked it away. Syracuse basketball now falls to 6-14 against Pitt while coached by Jamie Dixon. They’ve lost the last four and it’s been more than two years since they’ve beaten Pitt.

Check back over the coming days for a preview of UNC and some further analysis of this latest debacle and what it means for the Orange moving forward.

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