Syracuse Battles UNC’s Size and Skill in Tough Road Test
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - On a Monday night in the Dean Smith Center, Syracuse found itself in a familiar spot - trying to punch above its weight against a North Carolina team that’s long made life difficult for opponents in the ACC. The Tar Heels, ranked No. 14 in the country, came in riding a three-game win streak and looking every bit the part of a team rounding into form for March.
For Syracuse, still searching for consistency under Adrian Autry, this was a measuring stick game. And early on, it was clear the Orange were going to need a special performance to hang around.
Freeman Shines in Return to Starting Lineup
If there was a bright spot for Syracuse, it was Donnie Freeman. After coming off the bench in the win over Notre Dame, Freeman was reinserted into the starting five - and he wasted no time making his presence felt.
Matched up against UNC’s Caleb Wilson, a projected lottery pick and one of the most versatile bigs in the country, Freeman didn’t flinch. He poured in 15 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in the first half alone, showing off a polished midrange game and the kind of touch you need to score over length.
Freeman’s ability to create his own shot was critical, especially in a game where Syracuse's offense struggled to generate clean looks. He accounted for more than half of the Orange’s points late in the first half, keeping them within striking distance even as UNC began to find its rhythm.
UNC’s Offense Finds Its Flow
North Carolina didn’t come out firing on all cylinders. The early minutes were a grind - both teams struggled to score, and it felt like one of those classic ACC slugfests. But once the Tar Heels started knocking down shots, the game began to tilt.
A pair of three-pointers - one by 7-footer Henri Veesaar, who pulled Will Kyle III out to the perimeter, and another in transition following a missed three from Kiyan Anthony - helped UNC build a double-digit lead. That kind of offensive versatility is what makes this Tar Heels team dangerous. Veesaar, a transfer from Arizona, gives them a second dominant interior presence next to Wilson, and when he’s stretching the floor like that, it’s a tough cover for any defense.
By the time the first half was winding down, UNC had opened up a 34-29 lead. Wilson had 10 points of his own, but what separated the Tar Heels was their balance. Their offense was flowing, with multiple players contributing, while Syracuse was leaning heavily on Freeman to keep things competitive.
Syracuse Offense Stalls Under Pressure
The Orange struggled to generate offense outside of Freeman. Through the first 11 minutes, Syracuse was just 3-for-11 from the field, and two of those makes were difficult, contested shots from Freeman. Without the kind of ball movement that helped them beat Notre Dame, the Orange offense bogged down into isolation sets and low-percentage looks.
Kiyan Anthony checked in early, likely in an effort to spark some shot creation, but UNC’s size and speed on the perimeter made it tough for Syracuse to get into any kind of rhythm. The Tar Heels’ length disrupted passing lanes and forced tough catches, and even inbounding the ball became a challenge. After a pair of free throws from Wilson, Syracuse had to burn a timeout just to reset, with visible frustration from Freeman after the play.
Sadiq White Jr. picked up his second foul with over 10 minutes to go in the first half, a tough blow for a team that needed his energy and athleticism on defense. Without him, and with Kyle struggling to contain Veesaar on the perimeter, the Orange were forced to dig deeper into their rotation earlier than they’d like.
UNC’s Twin Towers Prove a Problem
The matchup was always going to be a tough one for Syracuse, especially in the paint. Caleb Wilson, at 6-foot-10, is not just a scoring threat but a rebounding machine, averaging nearly a double-double. And with Veesaar alongside him, UNC can dominate the boards and protect the rim without sacrificing offensive spacing.
That size advantage showed up early and often. Syracuse had difficulty securing defensive rebounds and struggled to get second-chance opportunities of their own. Kyle and Freeman had their hands full trying to battle UNC’s bigs, and it was clear that this was going to be one of the more physically demanding matchups Syracuse had faced all season.
Coaching Pressure on Both Sides
This game also came with a bit of subtext. Both programs are in eras following legendary head coaches - and both fan bases have had moments of restlessness.
Hubert Davis, now in his fifth year at UNC, has his squad sitting at 17-4 and back on track after a couple of rough outings. But expectations in Chapel Hill are sky-high, and anything short of a deep NCAA Tournament run tends to raise eyebrows.
For Syracuse, the pressure on Adrian Autry is even more immediate. The Orange are in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament for a fifth straight season - three of those under Autry.
The win over Notre Dame snapped a four-game losing streak, but consistency has been elusive. Games like this - even in defeat - are opportunities to show growth and competitiveness against elite opponents.
Looking Ahead
There’s no shame in struggling against a team like North Carolina, especially on the road. But for Syracuse, the challenge remains the same: finding reliable offense outside of Donnie Freeman and closing the gap in physical matchups. The ACC doesn’t offer many breathers, and if the Orange want to play meaningful basketball in March, they’ll need to build on the flashes of promise - like Freeman’s standout performance - and turn them into something more sustainable.
For now, North Carolina looks like a team with the pieces to make noise down the stretch. And Syracuse, while not quite there yet, showed just enough to keep the door open for what’s still possible this season.