Virginia Outmuscles Syracuse Behind Size, Shooting, and Turnovers in ACC Clash
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - On a frigid afternoon in Virginia, with temperatures hovering around 20 degrees and a wind chill that made it feel even colder, Syracuse ran into a red-hot Cavaliers team that brought the heat on both ends of the floor. No. 18 Virginia, locked in a tie for third in the ACC standings, leaned on its size, sharp shooting, and disciplined defense to pull away late and hand Syracuse a 72-59 loss - the Orange’s second straight road test against a top-25 opponent.
First half fight, second half fade
Syracuse came out swinging thanks to its backcourt. Naithan George and JJ Starling shouldered the offensive load early, combining for 23 of the Orange’s 35 first-half points.
George was perfect in the opening frame, going 5-for-5 from the field, while Starling chipped in a strong 5-for-7. Their shot-making kept Syracuse within striking distance despite some early turnovers and defensive lapses.
Virginia, as expected, came out firing from deep - the Cavaliers attempted 30 threes on the night, connecting on 10. Early on, they punished Syracuse’s brief experiment with zone defense, spacing the floor and finding open looks. When Syracuse switched to man-to-man, the Orange found more success, forcing some misses and generating offense in transition.
A 17-8 Syracuse run, capped by a George three-point play, tied the game at 33 with just over three minutes left in the half. But Virginia responded with poise, closing the half with a mini-surge to take a 38-35 lead into the break.
Freeman struggles to find rhythm
Donnie Freeman had a tough afternoon. Virginia clearly made him a focal point of their defensive game plan, throwing physical defenders at him every time he touched the ball.
Whether it was on the perimeter or in the post, Freeman was met with resistance - and often double or triple teams. He finished with just five points on 2-of-11 shooting, well below his season average, though he did battle hard on the glass and collected nine rebounds.
Frustration boiled over in the first half when Freeman, after finally getting a bucket to fall, had some words for the officials and was hit with a technical foul. He sat for a stretch after that but returned to knock down a three later in the half. Still, Virginia was content to let him fire from distance, contesting just enough to keep him uncomfortable.
Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry has emphasized the importance of getting Freeman the ball in spots where he can be effective. That didn’t happen often on Saturday.
Part of that was Virginia’s defensive execution. Part of that was Freeman forcing the issue when better options might’ve been available.
Turnovers tell the story
Turnovers have been a recurring issue for Syracuse this season, and Saturday was no different. Virginia capitalized on Syracuse’s mistakes, outscoring the Orange 17-5 in points off turnovers.
One sequence in particular stood out: a Naithan George pass was picked off by Jacari White, who missed the fast-break layup - but Ugonna Onyenso was right there for the follow-up dunk. That pushed the UVA lead to 11 and forced a Syracuse timeout.
George, who led Syracuse with 19 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting night, also committed five turnovers and eventually picked up his fourth foul while driving to the basket with just over five minutes left in the game. His performance was a mix of brilliance and frustration - efficient scoring paired with costly mistakes.
Cavaliers’ size and depth shine
Virginia’s roster is built with length and versatility at every position, and it showed. From the perimeter to the paint, they made life difficult for Syracuse’s frontcourt. William Kyle struggled to get touches against Virginia’s pair of 7-footers, and when he did get a look - like a missed dunk late in the second half - the Cavaliers were there to contest.
Freeman, meanwhile, had to deal with the 6-foot-9, 238-pound Thijs de Ridder, a seasoned, physical forward with pro experience in Europe. That matchup was a grind all game long. The Cavaliers didn’t just contest shots - they wore Syracuse down.
Virginia also won the battle on the boards, particularly on the offensive glass. The Cavaliers turned second-chance opportunities into 17 points, compared to just seven for Syracuse. That extra effort and size advantage played a huge role in the final margin.
Other notes from the game:
- Kiyan Anthony did not see the floor. It’s unclear whether that was due to injury or a coach’s decision.
- Bryce Zephir saw first-half action, subbing in when George picked up early foul trouble.
- Nate Kingz was quiet in the first half but came alive after the break, finishing with 13 points - 11 of them coming in the second half.
He struggled from deep, going just 1-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Final thoughts
This was a physical, disciplined Virginia squad that looked every bit like an ACC contender. For Syracuse, the loss highlighted some familiar issues - turnovers, shot selection, and the ongoing challenge of getting their frontcourt going against elite competition. The backcourt showed promise, particularly George, but the Orange will need more balance and composure if they want to hang with the top-tier teams in the conference.