Syracuse basketball escapes BC, but Jim Boeheim is down on defense

The college basketball season, year after year, is a grind for Syracuse basketball and its peers around the country, and the challenges brought on by the novel coronavirus pandemic have made the 2020-21 campaign one unlike any other in the sport’s history.

After his Orange managed to get by a pesky Boston College squad on Saturday afternoon inside the Carrier Dome, head coach Jim Boeheim acknowledged in a Zoom call with media members that his team still has much work to do as the regular season inches closer to fruition.

Boeheim credited the under-manned Eagles with putting up a tremendous fight versus the ‘Cuse, and I applaud the Syracuse basketball head coach for saying this.

When these two groups faced off on Boston College’s turf earlier this stanza, the Orange absolutely crushed the Eagles. Yet on Saturday afternoon in Central New York, Boston College kept things remarkably close, despite the Eagles missing several players.

Ultimately, Syracuse basketball (12-6, 6-5) conquered Boston College (3-13, 1-9) by a final count of 75-67 on the Hill, but this Atlantic Coast Conference collision included numerous cardiac ‘Cuse moments.

On several occasions throughout the encounter, the Orange found itself up by double-digits against the Eagles. However, Syracuse basketball couldn’t seem to put Boston College away due to a variety of factors, such as poor shot selection and defense, the ‘Cuse committing far too many turnovers, and the Eagles competing with a ton of energy and pride.

Syracuse basketball did just enough to muster up a victory over Boston College.

As Boeheim noted in his virtual post-game press conference, in every season, there are affairs where the Orange isn’t going to play all that great. The team could struggle with its shooting, get hurt on the boards, or fail to execute well in the 2-3 zone, among other things.

What’s important under those circumstances is that Syracuse basketball does what it needs to do to squeak out a success. And versus the Eagles, that’s what transpired, Boeheim said.

Sophomore point guard Joe Girard III was stellar in the first half scoring the ball, and he kept the ‘Cuse in the game, according to Boeheim.

After intermission, Girard turned into more of a facilitator, while the Orange focused on getting the ball into the paint, so that guys like senior power forward/center Marek Dolezaj and sophomore forward Quincy Guerrier could score around the basket and convert from the free-throw line.

Back in mid-December, Syracuse basketball made an abundance of 3-pointers in smoking Boston College on the road. On Saturday afternoon, the Orange made only five shots from deep, but the team was really efficient, hitting on nearly 50 percent.

Boeheim said that the Eagles’ solid defensive performance forced the ‘Cuse to produce more inside. Syracuse basketball responded and took care of business at home, buoyed by all five of its starters reaching double-figures in scoring.

Even though Boston College didn’t shoot a high percentage from the field or from beyond the arc, Boeheim characterized his squad’s output on defense as “very sub-par.” That’s a fairly common theme in 2020-21 for the Orange, and the team has to shore up its 2-3 zone if it wants to sniff a chance of going dancing in March.

With this achievement, Syracuse basketball is 53-26 all-time against the Eagles, and the Orange has won six in a row in their series together, per cuse.com.

No disrespect to Boston College, but this triumph for Syracuse basketball doesn’t move the needle much as it pertains to the Orange’s Big Dance resume.

Speaking of that, the ‘Cuse will travel to Louisville on Wednesday, Feb. 17, for an important ACC clash beginning at 6:30 pm. The Cardinals represent a massive opportunity for Syracuse basketball to notch a marquee victory versus one of the league’s premier units.