Syracuse basketball completed a successful trip to Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts as they picked up their second win in ACC play.
Syracuse basketball started with an early onslaught of points from the mid-range game and slowly worked their way back behind the three-point line. Lucas Taylor started things from deep, knocking down two triples followed by Jaquan Carlos hitting one of his own, stretching Syracuse’s lead to 21-13. Boston College methodically made their way back into the game eventually hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game at 32 heading into halftime.
Boston College carried this momentum into the second half where they extended their lead to as many as eight points on the back of a solid defensive performance. But in the final eight minutes of the game, the Orange matched the Eagles’ intensity and a JJ Starling floater took the lead back with five minutes to play.
From there, Syracuse basketball kept Boston College at arm’s length, winning 79-71. Five different players scored in double figures, and the Orange were once again led by JJ Starling, who had 26 points. This is the second consecutive game in which the junior has scored more than 20 points.
Takeaway #1: Syracuse’s depth
After playing seven games without JJ Starling, Orange fans were hoping that the injury bug would not reappear for the squad. But with Donnie Freeman missing the last two games with a lower right leg injury, it would seem that the Orange would be struggling. But the Orange have thrived through the adverse conditions.
In the two games without the freshman phenom, the Orange are 2-0, including wins over Georgia Tech and now Boston College. Syracuse has done this with huge contributions from players that a few weeks ago would have been unlikely sources. Other than Starling, the main spotlight has been on Lucas Taylor.
The Georgia State transfer has played more than 20 minutes in the previous six games and has shot 50% or better in each of those contests. Taylor has also energized the Orange from behind the arc, as he has made at least two triples in each of those games as well.
Graduate transfer Eddie Lampkin Jr. has also been reenergized in the past few games. Without Freeman on the floor, the 6-foot-11 center has been asked to fill an even larger role. He has played over 33 minutes in the previous two games and has notched back-to-back double-doubles for the second time this season.
If the Orange continue to use their depth as a weapon, they could find some magic later in ACC play.
Takeaway #2: Turnovers
So far this season, Syracuse basketball has struggled with turning the ball over. Before Saturday’s win, the Orange averaged 13 turnovers per game, which is the second most in the ACC. Add a turnover margin that was the worst in the conference, and that is not a recipe for success.
But if fans had only watched the win over Boston College, they never would have known about the recent struggles. On Saturday, the Orange only turned the ball over five times, that is the best performance of the season and it is only the second time that they had fewer than 10 turnovers in a game this season.
Fewer turnovers could have been a case of a slightly slower tempo against Boston College. But either way, if the Orange can continue to limit turnovers, especially in a half-court offense, the season might turn in a hopeful direction.
Takeaway #3: Boston College’s bench
Boston College basketball has hit a plateau in their season. After going 8-3 in non-conference play, the Eagles have already dropped four conference games. The main reason for this is their ability, or struggles, to have valuable performances off the bench.
To this point in the season, the Eagles are averaging 21 bench points per game, which is outside of the top 200 in the country. In the loss to Syracuse, the bench only scored six points. While this is an outlier in comparison to their previous performances, they have not reached their average in bench points in any of their conference games.
While the starters combined for 64 of the Eagle’s 71 points on Saturday, it may be a sign of things to come. Each conference matchup becomes increasingly more important, especially with the bottom three teams in the conference missing the ACC tournament. An increase in bench production could lead to the Eagles moving off of the ACC bubble and cement their place in the conference.
Next up for Syracuse (8-8, 2-3): vs. Louisville (12-5, 5-1 ACC) — Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. EST
Next up for Boston College (9-7, 1-4): at Notre Dame (7-9, 1-4) — Jan. 13 at 7 p.m. EST