Syracuse Basketball: Key takeaways and concerns as 'Cuse squeaks by Colgate at home

When it comes to Syracuse basketball, a win is a win, right?

Well, I guess. Sort of. Perhaps. Hey, it's early in the 2024-25 season for the Orange, but man, the 'Cuse is 2-0 but not looking all that good.

Sure, the team's roster of 12 scholarship players includes four college transfers and three incoming freshmen, so it's understandable if it will take Syracuse basketball some time to gel as a cohesive unit, particularly on the defensive end.

But the Orange's defensive effort on Tuesday night at the JMA Wireless Dome against Patriot League member Colgate left a lot to be desired. So did the late-game free-throw shooting by the 'Cuse.

Still, the Raiders had defeated Syracuse basketball twice in recent years, and Colgate held a 24-point, second-half edge over the Orange a term ago before the 'Cuse mounted an epic comeback to win by four points.

So Colgate, by no means, was going to come to the Hill on Tuesday evening and be fazed by playing in the Dome. And if I'm being honest, our beloved Orange (2-0) did all kinds of things to give this game away, but ultimately, Syracuse basketball would beat the Raiders, 74-72.

My top takeaways as Syracuse basketball survives versus Colgate to win by two points.

•The Orange made 44.3 percent from the field, 34.8 percent from beyond the arc and just 50.0 percent from the free-throw line. With the 'Cuse clinging to a two-point lead at the end of this non-conference battle, Syracuse basketball missed three straight front-ends of one-and-ones that could have made it a two-possession game. That's unacceptable.

•Colgate (1-2), meanwhile, hit on 43.8 percent from the field, 37.0 percent from deep, and 54.5 percent from the charity stripe. The Orange's defense needs a lot of work. Syracuse basketball players aren't doing an effective job of closing out on shooters, keeping opponents in front of them, and providing help-side support. Communication among 'Cuse defenders also must improve, and I think it can with time.

•Oh, and the Orange's transition defense. Yuck. Colgate led 22-2 in fast-break points, along with 6-2 in steals, 12-2 in points off turnovers, and 7-6 in turnovers forced. Syracuse basketball, conversely, led 45-36 in rebounding, 19-13 in assists, 24-20 in bench points, 5-3 in blocks, 30-28 in paint points, and 8-2 in second-chance points.

•Individually speaking, graduate student center Eddie Lampkin Jr. tallied 15 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Junior small forward Chris Bell notched 14 points, four boards and two blocks. Junior guard J.J. Starling added 12 points, four rebounds and three dimes.

•Senior forward Jyare Davis had eight points and nine rebounds. Freshman shooting guard Elijah Moore produced eight points and three assists.

•Redshirt sophomore guard Chance Westry was in uniform and available to play, a team spokesperson told me before this encounter began, but he didn't see the court.

•With this win, Syracuse basketball is now 129-47 in its all-time series with Colgate. Even though the Orange is 2-0 to start the 2024-25 term, the 'Cuse has beaten Le Moyne and the Raiders by a combined six points. Yikes.

•Up next, the Orange will host Youngstown State this Saturday, Nov. 16, beginning at 1 pm and with live-streaming coverage on the ACC Network Extra.