Syracuse basketball showed tons of guts in a massive win over UNC

Throughout the 2020-21 campaign, and in other recent seasons, Syracuse basketball has almost always lost to an opponent when the Orange is out-rebounded. The ‘Cuse didn’t seem to care about that trend on Monday night in Central New York.

North Carolina, which had defeated Atlantic Coast Conference leader Florida State this past Saturday, is loaded with bruising big men, and that understandably caused problems for the Orange.

But despite the Tar Heels crushing the ‘Cuse on the glass, Syracuse basketball hung tough with UNC and managed to escape the Hill with a thrilling 72-70 victory.

Save for its conquest of nationally ranked Virginia Tech earlier in the current term, the Orange’s besting of North Carolina (15-9, 9-6) is perhaps the most impressive achievement of 2020-21 for Syracuse basketball (14-8, 8-7).

Since this result came at home, it doesn’t qualify as a quadrant-one win for the ‘Cuse, unless the Tar Heels move up a bit in the NET rankings.

Regardless, it’s still a wonderful outcome for the Orange, as both head coach Jim Boeheim and junior shooting guard Buddy Boeheim alluded to in their post-game Zoom calls with media members.

Syracuse basketball did just enough to squeak by North Carolina on Monday evening.

In his virtual call following the triumph over UNC, Jim Boeheim mentioned more than once how proud he is of his team’s fight in this physical ACC clash.

Buddy Boeheim shot extremely well. Freshman combo guard Kadary Richmond was simply stellar as a facilitator. Sophomore forward Quincy Guerrier, even though not 100-percent healthy, proved “unbelievable” in the paint, Jim Boeheim said. And sophomore center Jesse Edwards contributed a really solid performance.

The Orange head coach acknowledged that North Carolina would hurt his squad on the boards. But to counteract that, the ‘Cuse 2-3 zone stifled the Tar Heels on the perimeter, and Syracuse basketball also forced a ridiculous number of UNC turnovers that the Orange converted into a sizable amount of points.

The ‘Cuse is now 6-14 all-time versus North Carolina, with Syracuse basketball wrapping up its 2020-21 regular season this Wednesday against Clemson at the Carrier Dome. Tip-off is slated for 5 pm.

After a pair of tough road setbacks last week, to Duke and then Georgia Tech, for Syracuse basketball to regroup and secure a victory over a UNC crew that has owned the Orange in recent stanzas illustrates a lot of grit and heart.

Hopefully, the ‘Cuse can ride this positive momentum into the team’s next conference collision with the Tigers, another squad that will give Syracuse basketball all that it can handle in the interior.