The Syracuse Orange picked up their 10th win of 2023 with a 81-73 victory over Pitt Saturday at the Dome.
The JMA Wireless Dome was packed for the ACC home-opener. It was the best atmosphere of the season for the Syracuse Orange thus far.
It was the 125th meeting between the two storied programs, and you could feel it. Both teams played an extremely physical brand of basketball, and neither team shied away from the constant chatter on the floor.
Both teams hit the ground running, only missing 6 shots combined in the first 4:43. The matchup was close throughout the game, which saw six lead changes. Pitt closed out the first half on a 13-4 run, giving the Panthers a 38-30 lead heading into halftime. Syracuse roared back in the second half, giving the Orange a win in their final game of this calendar year.
The Judah Mintz-Blake Hinson showdown did not disappoint. The two stars started jawing at each other from the tip and that intensity became contagious as the game waged on. Both played with aggression, and both were rewarded with foul-outs. It was a classic superstar brawl, even if their teammates led the way in scoring.
Takeaway #1: Syracuse is a dangerous team when they want to be
There was a different type of in the air when Syracuse and Pitt took the floor. A lot can be attributed to the JMA Wireless Dome having one of the best crowds of the season, but there is something to be said about the way Syracuse played.
The Orange came off a win against Niagara where head coach Adrian Autry said he was disappointed in the way Syracuse finished the game. That was a big point of emphasis for Syracuse heading into ACC play.
Syracuse started off this game hot, hitting their first two shots and forcing two misses from Pitt. While Pitt answered and kept the game close throughout the first half, the Orange did not resort to forcing up shots when the Pitt defense picked up. Syracuse punished the interior, converting on seven of their 12 first-half makes by way of layup or dunk. They finished the day shooting just over 47% from the field.
Syracuse’s Naheem McLeod was the star on the defensive end of the floor in limited minutes, swatting three shots in the first eight minutes of the game and picking up a steal. He left the game to a standing ovation after he was subbed out in the first half. He finished with four blocks in just under nine minutes on the floor.
As a team, Syracuse forced 15 Pitt turnovers and turned those turnovers into 16 points. Another 20 points came in transition, most notably by way of alley-oop. Junior Benny Williams caught a few of those en route to his season-high 15 points off the bench.
Syracuse struggled from beyond the arc, however, hitting just three of their 17 three-point attempts. They made up for it on the free throw line, converting on 24 of their 30 shots from the charity stripe. Syracuse cannot count on forcing that many fouls to win consistently.
The Orange are on the brink of greatness. If they can build on this success and subtract the youthful mistakes, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with in March.
Takeaway #2: Syracuse’s bench is one of the best units in the ACC
52 bench points. That is all that needs to be said.
What’s more: All 52 came from just three Syracuse Orange players. Sophomore Quadir Copeland led the way with 22 points, a career high. He just missed out on another double-double with 9 rebounds to go along with 4 assists.
Sophomore Maliq Brown continues to improve his offensive game, tying his season-high with 15 points. Williams completes the trio with another 15 points, as previously mentioned.
The three dominated the glass, combining for 24 of the Orange’s 40 rebounds. They also combined for five steals and two blocks on the defensive side.
As a result, sophomores Justin Taylor and Chris Bell played less than 20 minutes apiece. The duo struggled shooting the basketball, a rarity thus far. They have a chance to bounce back in the New Year.
But when Syracuse’s bench can perform as it did Saturday, you can afford to have an off-day. Now the focus shifts towards getting everyone going consistently as the Orange approach postseason play.
Takeaway #3: Pitt’s free throw struggles lost this game
While it is fair to say the Syracuse Orange did a lot of things right in this game, it was ultimately free throws that cost Pitt the win.
The Panthers shot just under 42% from the field, and an even 40% from deep. Any head coach would take those numbers, especially when you add that to 21 fouls drawn. But Pitt was only able to convert on 11 of their 24 attempts from the charity stripe, their worst percentage of the season.
Pitt, on the year, shoots 66.6% from the free throw line. If they shoot at that clip against Syracuse, Pitt closes the gap to just a one-possession game with 15 seconds left. That could have changed the way Pitt played the final seconds.
In addition to the Panthers’ inability to hit free throws, they gave up way too many to the Orange. Copeland, himself, went 13-for-15 from the line. The Panthers committed 21 fouls, 6 more than their average on the season.
The rebound battle was neck-and-neck (Syracuse +1). Pitt shot the three-ball better. Pitt was a few mental mistakes away from picking up their 10th win.
Next up for Syracuse: at #16 Duke (Jan. 2 – 9 p.m.)
Next up for Pitt: vs. #9 North Carolina (Jan. 2 – 7 p.m.)
JMA packed?? Stop!