Syracuse basketball had another opportunity to pick up a quality win on Saturday afternoon against Miami, but the Orange defense couldn't stop the Hurricanes whatsoever inside the JMA Wireless Dome.
The 'Cuse took care of the ball well and had a sizable edge over the Hurricanes in points off turnovers. However, the Orange shot poorly from deep, and Miami crushed Syracuse basketball on the glass, in paint points and in second-chance points.
The end result was an 85-76 setback for the 'Cuse, its third straight. Syracuse basketball's defense, good earlier on in the 2025-26 season, has fallen apart lately. Granted, the Orange is also scoring more in Atlantic Coast Conference contests, but the team's calling card had been its defense, and the 'Cuse is struggling in that regard.
Syracuse basketball is now 20-14 in its all-time series with the 'Canes (16-4 overall, 5-2 in the ACC). Up next, the Orange (12-8 overall, 3-4 in the ACC) will travel to N.C. State on Tuesday evening.
Here's how Syracuse basketball lost at home to Miami.
Five Orange players reached double-figures in scoring. Sophomore big man Donnie Freeman had 14 points and four rebounds. Junior point guard Naithan George tallied 13 points, four rebounds, five assists, three turnovers and three steals. Freshman shooting guard Kiyan Anthony also produced 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field.
Senior center William Kyle III added 10 points, four rebounds and two blocks, while redshirt senior small forward Nate Kingz contributed 11 points on 4-of-7 from the field. Senior shooting guard J.J. Starling had eight points, although he went just 3-of-10 from the field.
Team-wise, Miami shot 61.1 percent from the field, 53.8 percent from beyond the arc and 80.0 percent from the charity stripe. There's no way the Orange could win this ACC clash by allowing those shooting percentages on defense. The 'Cuse connected on 49.2 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from 3-point land and 66.7 percent from the free-throw line.
In statistical categories, the Hurricanes led 37-21 in rebounds, including 8-5 in offensive rebounds, 20-13 in assists, 27-20 in bench points, 4-3 in blocks, 52-42 in paint points and 13-4 in second-chance points. The teams each had 16 fast-break points.
Syracuse basketball, on the other hand, led 16-6 in turnovers forced, 11-4 in steals and 17-4 in points off turnovers. This was a quadrant-two chance for the Orange, but the 'Cuse defense simply didn't get the job done. It's sad to see all the negativity about Syracuse basketball on social media and in chat rooms these days, but those sentiments are completely understandable.