Syracuse Basketball: Top takeaways as 'Cuse squeaks by Louisville in frenetic finish

Cardiac 'Cuse was in the house on Wednesday night at the JMA Wireless Dome, as Syracuse basketball and Louisville played a thrilling Atlantic Coast Conference encounter that included virtually no defense and had a somewhat controversial - and strange - ending.

The Orange, after losing two league road affairs last week and getting blasted by head coach Adrian Autry, continued its recent poor play on the defensive end versus the Cardinals on the Hill.

However, the 'Cuse scored a whole host of points, buoyed by a career night from sophomore forward Chris Bell, and Syracuse basketball managed a much-needed win against Louisville by a final count of 94-92.

The Orange (15-8, 6-6 in the ACC) avoided a potentially disastrous home setback against a Cardinals group that entered this conference clash with an NCAA NET ranking of No. 192. Louisville (7-16, 2-10 in the ACC) had a chance to prevail in the game's waning seconds, but a 3-point attempt didn't fall through.

This was the first contest since junior forward Benny Williams was dismissed from the program, and the 'Cuse got hammered on the glass. Syracuse basketball also continued its sub-par shooting from the free-throw line.

Toward the game's conclusion, with the score tied after the Cardinals had connected on a 3-pointer, sophomore wing Quadir Copeland went up for a transition shot, and goal-tending was called. On the replay, it looked like Louisville didn't goal-tend, however, the call stood to give the Orange a two-point edge that proved the final score.

My key observations as Syracuse basketball escaped Louisville at the Dome.

•Bell was sensational. He poured in a career-high 30 points on 8-of-10 from deep, along with six rebounds and a critical block near the end of this contest.

•Sophomore point guard Judah Mintz tallied 21 points, four assists and two steals, but he was only 9-of-15 from the charity stripe.

•Sophomore guard J.J. Starling finished with 19 points. Sophomore big man Maliq Brown generated 11 points, nine rebounds, five assists, six blocks and five steals. Sophomore wing Quadir Copeland added 11 points and seven assists.

•While the 'Cuse was only 22-of-33 from the free-throw line, the Orange hit on 61 percent from the field and 46 percent from beyond the arc. The Cardinals made 54 percent from the field, 44 percent from 3-point land and 73 percent from the charity stripe.

•Autry utilized a lot more zone defense against Louisville than he has throughout the rest of the 2023-24 season. Regardless of the team playing zone or man-to-man defense, the Orange has to rebound better, and I contend that Williams' absence will likely hurt Syracuse basketball on the boards. The Cardinals led the 'Cuse, 40-21, on the glass.

•In other statistical categories, Louisville held a 31-11 advantage in bench points, 40-34 in paint points, and an astounding 23-3 in second-chance points.

•Conversely, the Orange led 20-15 in assists, 17-10 in turnovers forced, 7-2 in blocks, a whopping 33-6 in fast-break points, 11-6 in steals, and 23-11 in points off turnovers. This was a closely fought encounter, as neither squad led by more than seven points all night.

•With this victory, Syracuse basketball has won three in a row over Louisville, although the Cardinals still lead their all-time series, 19-13.

•Up next, the Orange will continue its current three-game home stand when Syracuse basketball hosts former 'Cuse guard Joe Girard III and Clemson beginning at 12 pm on Saturday, Feb. 10, with television coverage on ESPN2.