The Orange have put up some gaudy point totals, but they've also really struggled offensively. Why?
Let me say this up front:
Syracuse men's basketball is capable of good offensive games. They scored 85 points against Binghamton and 91 against Northeastern in the non-league schedule. Even in conference play, they've racked up 82, 83, 94 and 107 (albeit in double-overtime).
Despite those big numbers, the SU offense is broken. They've scored in the 50s or 60s five times inside Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play. They've generally been a tough watch, and the reason why? There is really nowhere to turn and no answers to cultivate.
Let's dive in:
The Orange can't shoot from three
In today's perimeter-oriented game, Syracuse just can't compete. At 33 percent from three, the Orange enter play on Monday at 246th nationally in three-point percentage.
Nate Kingz (36.3) and Tyler Betsey (39.4), are the only players shooting above that percentage. No SU player is above 40 percent. Betsey doesn't see regular minutes.
The Orange can't shoot foul shots, either
If you struggle to shoot from deep, the best thing to do is to get inside the lane and slash to the basket. The problem with that? You get fouled. But at 63.4 percent from the charity stripe, SU can't capitalize. They are 365th nationally. That is dead last in the country.
Lack of ball movement
Syracuse had just six assists in its latest loss against North Carolina. Part of that can be attributed to going 3-of-18 from the three-point line, but in general, this team has struggled to move the ball all season. Too much standing around, too much iso ball, not enough passing to open up great shots.
What needed to happen
If you don't move the ball and can't shoot well, Syracuse has just one real option to score: Turning offense into defense. Early in the season, they were able to stifle teams on defense and break out in transition. But ever since conference play began, SU has regressed defensively, forcing themselves into a half-court offense, which has been a problem all year.
What's next
The Orange will be back in action again on Saturday when they take on Wake Forest at 3:45 p.m. ET. Syracuse is 15-13 and 6-9 inside ACC play. They are on the verge of missing the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year.
Also on campus
--After a tough loss against Harvard over the weekend, the Syracuse men's lacrosse team has fallen out of the No. 1 spot nationally. Our own Jami Leabow has the latest on where they stack up now.
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