Syracuse was back in action against Florida State on Saturday with several reasons for optimism. Top player JJ Starling was back from injury, giving Cuse fans hope that the team could bounce back after losing to Wake Forest earlier in the week. However, despite major improvements in some areas, some of the same old problems doomed the Orange, who fell 90-74.
JJ Starling Was Back And Some Things Were Notably Better For Syracuse
Leading scorer JJ Starling was back from his broken hand after a long absence. Starling definitely had some rust, shooting just 5-16 and only scoring 12 points, as opposed to his average of around 20. It’s reasonable to expect Starling to have some struggles as he works his way back, and overall, he played quite well. Even his mere presence on the floor helped the team in a lot of other areas.
Commentator and former Syracuse legend Eric Devendorf made the point early in the broadcast of how much Starling helps the team get into the right spots on offense, particularly Chris Bell, whose woeful season had a noticeable turn for the better in Tallahassee. Bell, who was taken out of the starting lineup following recent struggles, scored a team-high 18 points. In the previous four games, Bell only managed 9 total points and hit exactly 0 threes. Draining all 4 of his three-point attempts, it certainly seems like having Starling out there to feed him the ball makes a big difference for Bell.
Update: 4-for-4 from 3, 15 points for @Christopsbell https://t.co/m6n4OmRiPN
— Syracuse Men’s Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) January 5, 2025
Lucas Taylor, who entered the starting lineup in Bell’s place, gave the Orange a solid outing, adding 10 points on 50% from the floor. Luminary freshman Donnie Freeman added another solid performance, getting a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Taylor shot 2-4 from deep, and Freeman also connected from beyond the arc on one occasion. Syracuse has been a horrible three-point shooting team, but they shot 10-24 as a team in what is surely an encouraging sign for head coach Adrian Autry.
Autry elaborated on Bell’s performance postgame, clarifying that the demotion to the bench was not a punishment, but an attempt to help Bell enter the game with more confidence.
I said I’m trying to help build your confidence up. I said, ‘What about getting ready to go into the game? I think that might help you.’
Bell seemed to be helped by the maneuver, bouncing back in a major way. He told reporters that he felt “less pressure” coming off the bench, which helped him be more aggressive. Bell is one of Syracuse’s most important players. When he plays well, they can be in any game, but when he struggles, the team is missing a lot of production.
Some of the Same Problems Continued to Plague Syracuse
Despite the turnaround in perimeter shooting, the Orange continued their sloppy ballhandling, poor decision-making, and overall ineptitude on offense. They once again committed 15 turnovers, many of which were unforced. Passes thrown out of bounds, overdribbling, and poor entry passes all were quite common for the Cuse. Freshman Elijah Moore was notably benched after just three minutes of action due to two head-scratching turnovers in the first half. Moore did not return in the game. Center Eddie Lampkin Jr. continues to disappoint down low for Syracuse. The no-look dimes and big-man plays on the boards that were typical for Lampkin early in the season have apparently dried up. Lampkin continues to not impact the game for large stretches.
On defense, no issues seem to have been solved either. Poor discipline, missed assignments, failed communication, and some players looking lost are all too familiar for Syracuse. Florida State feasted on easy baskets, blowing by defenders off the dribble, making backdoor cuts, and even throwing several uncontested alley-oops. The Seminoles had four starters in double-figures, led by Daquan Davis, one of the top scorers in the ACC. Syracuse fans continue to be fed up with the poor performances.
“There’s nothing to be happy about right now if you’re a Syracuse basketball fan…. We’ll all get through it together.”@pauliescibilia puts it all on the table to end tonight’s postgame after Syracuse falls to Florida State.
Watch the full show ⬇️
📺 https://t.co/AP9fX6FkcP pic.twitter.com/kjcdqrvy7q— Cuse Sports Talk (@CuseSportsTalk_) January 5, 2025
Starling and Bell continue to be the key for the Cuse. Autry’s bunch will be hoping for a resurgence on Tuesday, when they face a solid Georgia Tech team.
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