Syracuse basketball played North Carolina tough but fell in a key game in Syracuse’s quest to make the ACC Tournament.
The first half was back and forth for the first 14 minutes, as the game was tied 19-19. From there, the Orange struggled on the defensive end, giving up 23 points in the final seven minutes of the first half. After the first 20 minutes, the Tar Heels led 42-34.
In the second half, the Tar Heels led by as many as 11 points early in the frame. However, the Orange slowly worked their way back into the game when J.J. Starling tied it at 60 with an old-fashioned three-point play with 10 minutes to play.
In the end, the Tar Heels would hold off a late run from the Orange and win 88-82. Eddie Lampkin Jr. led all scorers with 26 points and 11 rebounds. This was Lampkin’s 11th double-double of the season.
Takeaway #1: Syracuse’s free throw shooting
Before Saturday night’s loss, the Orange were shooting 70% from the free throw line. This placed them as the second-worst free-throw shooting team in the ACC and outside the top 230 in the country.
However, Syracuse basketball’s comeback bid came from consistency from the free throw line. On Saturday, the Orange had their third-best performance from the line so far this season, in terms of percentage. The Orange shot 90.9% from the line going 20-22. This is also the first time since Syracuse’s Jan. 18 win over Notre Dame, that the Orange made 20 or more free throws in a single game.
This is also the second straight game that the Orange have shot better than 90% from the free throw line. While these two performances have come in losses, consistency from the free-throw line will need to continue if the Orange want to make a run to the ACC Tournament.
Takeaway #2: The painted area
Syracuse basketball has dominated the painted area in both rebounding and scoring in their last three games. Over that stretch, the Orange have won the points in the paint battle by an average of 11 points per game. They have also led the rebounding category over that stretch by an average of four rebounds per game.
They are led in both of these categories by Eddie Lampkin Jr, who had a career-high 23 rebounds in a loss to Pittsburgh earlier in the season. He also had a career-high in points in the loss to UNC with 26.
Syracuse basketball is the fourth-best rebounding team in the ACC. With the Orange struggling to find consistency from behind the arc, the painted area has become the main point of emphasis. If they can continue this success in the paint, the Orange will have a great opportunity to make their way to Charlotte for the ACC tournament.
Takeaway #3: North Carolina’s rotation
Ian Jackson’s 23-point performance in Saturday’s win was only the fifth time this season that a player who came off the bench led the Tar Heels in scoring in 26 games this season. Jackson has led the team in three of the five examples so far this season.
An ever-changing rotation has been a problem for the Tar Heels this season. At times it seems Hubert Davis is matching up to other teams or riding the momentum of a great performance in the prior game. To this point in the season, only RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau have started all 26 games for UNC. Eight different players have started a game for the Tar Heels this season.
With one of the most talented rosters in the ACC, a rotation that is constantly changing, may not be a bad thing. But in a time when UNC is fighting to get into the NCAA tournament, consistency will be key.
Up next for Syracuse basketball (11-15, 5-10): at Pittsburgh (15-10, 6-8) – Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. EST
Up next for North Carolina basketball (15-11, 8-6): vs NC State (10-15, 3-11) – Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. EST