Syracuse basketball survived a scare from Youngstown State in double OT.
It’s okay. You can breathe now. Syracuse basketball outlasted Youngstown State in 2OT, 104-95, in their first ever meeting.
Takeaway #1: A Star(ling) is born
A career-high 38 points. And Syracuse needed all of them in a double overtime win.
Against Colgate, the ball was in his hands late to put Syracuse in front in the final minutes. But he only dropped 12 and ended up fouling out. Coach Red Autry talked about trusting him and getting the ball to him as a scorer many times in this early season. But on Saturday, Syracuse basketball fans really got to see Starling shine.
The Notre Dame transfer hit two big threes early in the second half when Syracuse was 1/14 as a collective. It provided a huge spark and got the crowd going. Then down four, he hit a floater to get it to one possession with less than four minutes to play. Some clutch free throws tied the game late. A risky touchdown pass to Freeman for a layup connected. He hit more free throws. He drove coast to coast for an easy game-tying layup in the dying seconds of the second half.
In overtime, the Orange knew where the ball needed to go. Back to Starling. He had two jumpers to get the extra frame started for Syracuse. Countless buckets in both overtimes, with Starling running most of the offense.
He played 49 minutes. Starling told us he hadn’t ever played that many minutes, maybe not even in AAU Basketball growing up.
“When you have your brothers in your ear, they have confidence in you, everything just seems to go right”, said Starling.
He’s your man Syracuse. You’ll go as far as this kid from Baldwinsville will take you.
Takeaway #2: Playing with their food
You know when your mom tells you to stop complaining and eat the food that she made you for dinner? Even when she used the crockpot and it’s not your favorite meal of all time? But you continue to play with your food? That’s what Syracuse basketball is doing at the preverbal dinner table in their first three games of the season. They have stooped down to lower level competition and played in close games. Not extending leads (i.e. Colgate) and having to come back from large deficits (i.e. Le Moyne and Youngstown State).
The Orange were down nine. And went to overtime. They were then up eight with a minute to go. The Orange then let up an 8-0 run forcing double overtime. Against a team that was projected to finish sixth in the Horizon League.
If Syracuse is going to play every team close, no matter the caliber of the opponent, then fine. But if they are keeping these games close against teams that paid them to play in Syracuse, then fans can’t be confident in their future play against Power 5 teams across the country.
Takeaway #3: Three-point and free-throw woes
Syracuse could not hit anything from deep. Especially in the first half, where they shot 1/13. They finished the day 5/22 from three (23%), and 25/38 (66%) from the charity stripe. It nearly cost them this game, it nearly cost them the Colgate game, and even the Le Moyne game.
These are tune-up games. That’s understood. But if you can’t shoot the three against this type of competition, how can you expect to do it against ACC opponents? And it’s great that Syracuse is getting boards and getting fouled. But if you can’t make the free throws, what’s the point?
Syracuse basketball is currently outside the top 300 in both free throw percentage and three-point percentage. That needs to change.
Coach Autry’s got some film to watch to get prepped for a Texas team that will be their toughest test yet in the Legends Classic. Until Thursday, it’s no sleep ‘til Brooklyn.
Next game for Syracuse (3-0): vs. Texas (2-1) (Brooklyn, NY) – Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. EST
Next game for Youngstown State (1-2): vs. Monmouth (0-4) (Stephen F. Austin’s Campus, TX) – Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. EST