As the eight-seed in the ACC Tournament, Syracuse men’s basketball could have a long road ahead of them, if they can get past Wake Forest.
On Saturday, the Orange handled the Demon Deacons with ease. In a 72-63 win, Carmelo Anthony, Hakim Warrick and the 2003 National Championship team watched one of the most complete, defensive performances all season from Syracuse.
Sound and tough, the Orange held Wake Forest to its second-worst scoring performance in the final game of the regular season. Coach Boeheim’s team registered 13 steals, six more than the Demon Deacons, and dominating the paint battle (40-26).
In the back half of the season, Syracuse struggled with defending at the three-point line. Some say it has to do with effort, others say it has to do with the 2-3 zone—that always works no matter what depending on who you ask. But while Syracuse did well to stay in front of its opposition at the end, Wake Forest only hit on 10 three-point attempts all night, shooting just over 25% from distance.
“They got 39 threes up there, but our defense was more on top of it,” Boeheim said following Saturday’s win. “We were making them move a little bit not giving them easy looks at it. A little off balanced and you’re going to miss some of those.”
Lucky for the 47th-year head coach and his team, the Deacs shot 11% worse than this season’s average from 3-point land, finishing their 2022-23 campaign dropping four of its last five contests.
A large bright spot that will have to shine for Syracuse, not just Wednesday afternoon, but throughout the remainder of the tournament, is Jesse Edwards. The ALL-Defensive center recorded five of the Orange’s 13 steals, and 2 blocks in 40 minutes—not to mention 27 points and 20 rebounds.
“Jesse was just a monster inside,” Boeheim said. “I think when we looked for him, I thought we did a good job of finding him. He was all over the glass, he had five steals. You can’t play better than that. He was [in] a different world today.”
Edwards’ 13th double-double of the season was the first 20-20 stat line in a regulation Syracuse game since Derrick Coleman did it back in 1990. That is pretty good company for a player trying to build his draft stock. But will Saturday’s performance have any effect on the second meeting?
Short answer, no. But that does not mean some of the same characteristics from Saturday’s game will not transfer to Greensboro, NC on Wednesday at noon.
Jesse Edwards can produce similar numbers in the scoring department but replicating 20 rebounds will be a challenge. Assuming Head Coach Steve Forbes prepares for Jesse’s dominance down low, that would leave the jump shot open for the Orange.
It is not often Syracuse makes less than three long balls in a game. They made two against Wake Forest, the only time this season the Orange did not make three triples in a contest. While there is little possibility Syracuse makes less than three, it certainly does not mean they make double or even triple that mark. Statistically it is unlikely being so the Deacs have made 10 or more three-pointers in each of the last five games, leading the conference in made 3FGs, and the Orange have made the second fewest three pointers in the ACC.
What Syracuse can do is get to the free throw line. Wake Forest has scored 10 points or less from the free throw line in each of its last five games. The Orange have scored 10 points or less in one of its last 22, averaging 15 made free throws per contest, good for the fourth most in the conference.
There is no telling who has the clear edge in the Wednesday matinee. The Demon Deacons have the range and the ‘Cuse commands the paint and charity stripe. What will be interesting to see is how early coach Boeheim reverts to man-to-man defense. If it worked last time Syracuse played Wake Forest, chances are, it can work again.
If Syracuse wins tomorrow, it would be the first time since 1996 (Notre Dame) it has beaten an opponent back-to-back in the regular season finale and the first conference tournament game. Tip-off is set for 12:00 p.m. on ESPN from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, NC.