Syracuse basketball looks to avoid 2nd lousy loss to Patriot League team

Last month, Syracuse basketball suited up against two members of the Patriot League inside the Carrier Dome.

Those results were mixed. In the 2021-22 season opener, the Orange absolutely crushed Lafayette, as the ‘Cuse shot really well from the field in an encouraging beginning to the current stanza.

But then, 11 days later, the Orange built up a 15-point lead versus Colgate, only to see the Raiders ultimately connect on a total of 18 shots from beyond the arc in what would prove a 15-point triumph for Colgate, its first over the ‘Cuse in decades.

Fast-forward to the present, and Syracuse basketball (5-5, 1-0) is in a bit of a rut. After close victories over Indiana and Florida State not too long ago, the Orange fell to former Big East Conference rivals Villanova and Georgetown last week.

Now Syracuse basketball is set to welcome another Patriot League squad, Lehigh, to Central New York this Saturday evening. Following that encounter, the ‘Cuse hosts CNY neighbor Cornell on December 21 to complete the Orange’s non-conference docket.

It’s been a rough go for the next Syracuse basketball opponent so far this stanza.

Lehigh (1-8), out of Bethlehem, Pa., hasn’t fared all that well to date in 2021-22. Projected in a pre-season poll to finish last in the Patriot League, the Mountain Hawks are really struggling to score points, which could provide some relief to a ‘Cuse zone defense that has faced its own woes of late.

According to ESPN statistics, Lehigh only averages 64.8 points a game. The Mountain Hawks connect on 43.3 percent from the field, 32.6 percent from 3-point land, and 71.0 percent from the charity stripe.

They also commit a massive amount of turnovers per game, at 16.9. The Orange zone needs to be active and aggressive, putting a lot of pressure on Lehigh players so the ‘Cuse can pick up deflections and steals that get converted into transition buckets.

The Mountain Hawks are not particularly great on the boards, only grabbing 34.8 rebounds per encounter. Syracuse basketball has no excuse not to crush Lehigh on the glass.

All of that being said, the Orange better not be complacent against this opponent. In its 2021-22 campaign opener, Lehigh only lost on the road to Rutgers by three points in overtime. As you may recall, not too long ago, Rutgers upset then-No. 1 Purdue.

Additionally, when the Mountain Hawks come to the Hill, they will not have played an official game in two weeks, so they should have fresh legs. In their short series together, Syracuse basketball is 4-0 versus Lehigh, and I expect the ‘Cuse to push that record to 5-0 on Saturday.