Syracuse basketball wraps up its time in Hawaii on Wednesday night, as the Orange looks to halt a two-game slide in recent days to top-15 foes.
Since Monday, the ‘Cuse has suited up at the 2023 Allstate Maui Invitational from the University of Hawaii’s SimpliFi Arena in Honolulu.
Up first, on Monday afternoon, the ‘Cuse lost to No. 7 Tennessee, 73-56. The Orange was only down by five points with just over three minutes left, but the Volunteers went on a 12-0 run down the stretch to prevail by 17 points.
Versus No. 11 Gonzaga on Tuesday afternoon, Syracuse basketball got within six points of the Bulldogs with around 8.5 minutes to go in the second half, but Gonzaga broke things open to win by 19 points, 76-57.
How to watch Syracuse basketball versus Chaminade in Hawaii.
Now, on Wednesday evening, Syracuse basketball will aim to go 1-2 at this season’s Maui Invitational, as the Orange will play host school Chaminade. Coverage will be available from fuboTV.
The ‘Cuse (3-2) and the Silverswords (1-4) will compete beginning at 9:30 pm EST in the 7th/8th place game of the Maui Invitational, with television coverage on ESPNU.
Chaminade is a Division II school out of the Pacific West Conference. At the Maui Invitational, the Silverswords have fallen to No. 1 Kansas and UCLA.
So far in the young 2023-24 season, Chaminade has defeated Alaska while also losing to Alaska Anchorage and the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
At the Maui tourney, Syracuse basketball is struggling to shoot the ball. Against the Vols, the Orange didn’t fare well from the field, beyond the arc or at the free-throw line.
On Tuesday versus Gonzaga, the Orange connected on 35.9 percent from the field, 12.5 percent from 3-point land and 80.0 percent from the charity stripe.
A huge concern for the ‘Cuse is the glass and second-chance points. The Bulldogs, for one, held a 48-28 edge on the boards, and Gonzaga led 25-8 over the Orange in second-chance points. That’s a problem.
Syracuse basketball entered this year’s Maui Invitational with a perfect 9-0 record, winning the event in 1990, 1998 and 2013. Now, the ‘Cuse has a 9-2 mark in Hawaii, although this team has a young roster and has faced top-flight competition so far.
Per SU Athletics, the Orange and Chaminade have met once before, at the 1998 Maui Invitational. In that contest, Syracuse basketball defeated the Silverswords, 82-44.
In the loss to Gonzaga, sophomore point guard Judah Mintz and sophomore guard J.J. Starling led the way with 22 points and 15 points, respectively. Sophomore forward Chris Bell and sophomore wing Justin Taylor struggled with their shooting, so hopefully, they can get back on track versus Chaminade.
Junior center Naheem McLeod was solid on Tuesday, while junior forward Benny Williams didn’t play, with head coach Adrian Autry providing no comment on Williams.