Miami, the worst team in the Atlantic Coast Conference so far in the 2024-25 season, shredded Syracuse basketball's defense on Tuesday night, in a terrible setback for the Orange.
Entering this ACC clash, the 'Cuse and the Hurricanes sported the two poorest defenses in 2024-25, and it showed on Tuesday evening at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla.
Syracuse basketball, which is in danger of missing this season's ACC Tournament, fell to Miami on the road, 91-84. The Hurricanes made 55 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc, while Miami connected on 19-of-23 from the charity stripe.
Final from Miami. Syracuse loses on the road to the Hurricanes, 91-84. J.J. Starling had 25 points. Eddie Lampkin Jr. tallied 22 points and 13 rebounds. The Orange (11-14, 5-9 in the ACC) will host North Carolina on Saturday. I love my alma mater, but this is a bad loss. Sigh.
— InsideTheLoudHouse (@LoudHouseFS) February 12, 2025
Next up, the Orange (11-14, 5-9 in the ACC) will host North Carolina this Saturday, Feb. 15, beginning at 6:00 pm and airing on ESPN. With this outcome on Tuesday night, the 'Cuse is 20-13 in its all-time series with Miami (6-18, 2-11 in the ACC).
Final from Coral Gables
— Syracuse Men’s Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) February 12, 2025
We're back in the Dome Saturday vs. UNC pic.twitter.com/nucyVo2XHJ
In 2024-25, after expanding to 18 members in hoops, the ACC Tournament will only include the top-15 teams in the league standings, and the Orange is hovering around that No. 15 spot.
A deeper dive into Syracuse basketball's loss at Miami.
Neither squad was proficient on defense. The 'Cuse, not a great shooting team, made 45 percent from the field versus the Hurricanes, along with 38 percent from the perimeter and 16-of-17 from the free-throw line.
In other statistical categories, Syracuse basketball led 33-28 in rebounds, 29-23 in bench points, 34-26 in paint points, 11-8 in fast-break points and 19-14 in assists. Miami, meanwhile, led 10-9 in turnovers forced, 12-11 in points off turnovers, 4-3 blocks and 8-6 in steals.
Three Orange players carried the load for the team on Tuesday evening. Junior guard J.J. Starling paced Syracuse basketball with 25 points, along with five boards and three assists.
Graduate student center Eddie Lampkin Jr. tallied 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field and 6-of-6 from the free-throw line, along with 13 rebounds and six assists. Junior small forward Chris Bell added 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field.
I know that the 'Cuse was playing on the road against Miami, and it's always more challenging to prevail on a foe's turf. At the same time, the Hurricanes have an NCAA NET ranking of No. 225, making this a quadrant-three setback for Syracuse basketball.
This season has been a struggle for the Orange, and it would prove quite unfortunate if the 'Cuse didn't make the ACC Tournament. Syracuse basketball has six regular-season games left in 2024-25, three each at home and on the road, and it will need to notch a few victories to secure a place in next month's ACC Tournament from Charlotte, N.C.