Syracuse Stumbles Again: Hot Start Fizzles in Frustrating Loss to Virginia Tech
For the second straight game, Syracuse came out swinging - and for the second straight game, they couldn’t sustain it. A promising first half gave way to a second-half collapse, and the Orange let another winnable game slip away, this time to a Virginia Tech team that didn’t even shoot the ball particularly well from deep.
Let’s break down how this one unraveled.
A Tale of Two Halves - Again
Syracuse came out firing from beyond the arc, hitting 7 of their 12 three-point attempts in the first half. The ball movement was crisp, the floor spacing was solid, and shooters were getting clean, rhythm looks. It was the kind of offensive flow that gives you real hope - the kind that makes you think this team could turn the corner.
But then came the second half. And with it, a familiar script.
The Orange went just 3-of-11 from deep after halftime. Some of those misses were on decent looks, but others came from rushed, off-balance attempts as the offense stagnated.
Virginia Tech turned up the pressure on the perimeter, and Syracuse didn’t respond well. Outside of a few well-timed lobs, the Orange struggled to generate quality shots, and the ball stopped moving with the same purpose it had early on.
Virginia Tech Lives at the Line
This game was always going to be about discipline - and Syracuse didn’t have enough of it.
Virginia Tech came into the night averaging 28 free throw attempts per game in ACC play, and they stuck to the script. The Hokies went 26-of-36 from the line, outscoring Syracuse by 14 points at the stripe. That’s the margin right there.
The Orange committed too many avoidable fouls, especially in transition and on drives where Virginia Tech guards - particularly Ben Hammond - were aggressive in seeking contact. Hammond consistently attacked the body, forcing the issue and getting rewarded for it. Meanwhile, Syracuse’s defense looked a step slow and out of sync, and the fouls piled up.
When a team shoots 4-of-17 from three like Virginia Tech did, you’ve got to make them beat you from the outside. Instead, Syracuse gave them a steady diet of free points.
Sloppy, Undisciplined, and Out of Sync
This wasn’t just about shooting or fouls. It was about the little things - or rather, the lack of them.
Syracuse committed 14 turnovers, gave up 25 fast break points, and was whistled for 28 fouls. That’s a recipe for disaster, especially on the road in conference play.
There were also some questionable rotation decisions. Both Judah Mintz and JJ Starling sat for extended stretches in the first half after picking up two early fouls.
That’s a conservative approach, and while it’s understandable to protect your top guards, the offense clearly suffered. Over an 11-minute stretch with both on the bench, Syracuse managed just 14 points.
Virginia Tech didn’t exactly light it up in that span either, but the Orange missed a real opportunity to stretch the lead while the Hokies were dealing with their own foul trouble and offensive struggles.
Too Late with the Pressure
For a team that talks about playing fast and using tempo to its advantage, Syracuse continues to wait too long to turn up the heat defensively.
The Orange didn’t go to their full-court press until late in the game, and when they finally did, it worked. Virginia Tech looked rattled, coughing up possessions and allowing Syracuse to claw back into it.
But by then, the margin for error had vanished. A missed open look, a blown box out on a missed free throw - and that was all she wrote.
Where Does Syracuse Go From Here?
This was a game Syracuse had to have. Coming off a tough loss to Boston College, this matchup offered a chance to reset, to get back on track, to keep their postseason hopes alive. Instead, it turned into another missed opportunity - and another frustrating reminder of this team’s inconsistency.
The Orange showed flashes. They always do.
But flashes don’t win games in the ACC. Discipline, execution, and timely adjustments do.
And right now, Syracuse is falling short on all three fronts.
The road to the NCAA Tournament was already narrow. After this one, it’s looking more like a dead end.