When Syracuse Travels, Remind Them to Pack Their Defense

Not another road game for the Orangemen!

Syracuse have become too hard to watch away from home. Since the beginning of Big East play on Jan. 14, they have failed to hold an opponent under 78 points.

On Jan. 14, when the Orangemen traveled to Georgetown, they looked like they could legitimately cover a five point Bulldog line. Before that date, they had impressive road wins vs. Memphis, and Florida.

Then No. 6, Syracuse started their way down a slippery slope after their loss at Georgetown. The Orangemen were blown out by a score of 88-74. The main reasons for their defeat were poor defense and free throw shooting.

Syracuse came home, and three days later, beat Notre Dame 93–74, appearing to be back on track.

Wrong.

They traveled down to Pitt as 8-point underdogs. Instead, they were demoralized, lossing 78–60, with the culprits once again poor defense and free throw shooting.

In Syracuse’s next road game, they traveled to Providence, where they were a 2-point underdog. At this point, handicappers were apparently starting to catch on to their issues on the road.

The Friars were averaging 79 points per game. However, Syracuse let them drop 100 points. The game's final score being 100–94.

Syracuse, how did you let Providence drop 100 on you? Wait, I know, it is that poor defensive intensity I only see out of them on the road.

Then, the Orangemen came home to regroup and try to figure out what went wrong. They played West Virginia at home and beat them 74–61, looking solid in the process.

So was everything back to normal? Certainly not.

Next road game at Villanova was a 102–85 loss. It had only been a week after that first triple-digit allowance. Jim Boeheim, what is going on in practice?

Syracuse is ranked 22nd in the country, and I could make a case for at least 20 schools that should be there instead. Syracuse takes plays off and lack hustle.

They just don’t seem to care.

Someone needs to wake these players up, or put new ones on the floor until they get it. This team will do nothing but underachieve the rest of the season until a change is made.

The Orangemen are playing on the road versus Connecticut Wednesday night, Feb. 11, and the Huskies are playing as though they are the best team in the country. They have been one of my favorites in picks against the spread thus far. Syracuse has the talent to beat them outright, but only if they band together and figure out how to improve their defense.

They easily could drop their next three games to Connecticut, Georgetown, and Villanova. If they can’t beat Saint John’s, they can kiss the NCAA tournament goodbye.