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A sense of jubilation surrounded Syracuse’s program after it defeated then-No. 7 North Carolina on Feb. 13, 2024. It was SU’s first win over an AP Top 10 opponent since 2019. Outside of their 2021 Sweet 16 run, it was arguably the Orange’s peak of the 2020s.
At that point, Adrian Autry showed signs he was indeed ready and a fitting choice to replace Jim Boeheim at the helm. But fast forward a year, those emotions feel like a lost memory, as if the success never happened.
Amid Syracuse’s pace for its fewest wins in a season since notching 12 in the 1969-70 season, questions surrounding whether Autry should get a third year have surfaced. It’s been clear the “Orange Standard” hasn’t been met. And SU’s continuously found new ways to create new lows.
Syracuse’s (11-15, 5-10 Atlantic Coast) newest low was dropping its 10th ACC game in an 88-82 loss to North Carolina (15-11, 8-6 ACC), marking the third time in the last four seasons the Orange have dropped double-digit conference games. Entering its final five regular-season games, SU has a two-game advantage over NC State in the win column to secure the final ACC Tournament spot.
Both programs have fallen off sharply since the last time they faced in the JMA Wireless Dome. The Orange used the win to spearhead a 5-2 end to the 2023-24 conference season, capturing 20 regular-season wins for the first time since 2018-19. Meanwhile, the Tar Heels rebounded by embarking on a run to the Sweet 16. It was head coach Hubert Davis’ second March Madness appearance following a run to the National Championship in his first year at the helm in 2021-22.
While SU and UNC were coming off respective successful seasons, 2024-25 has been a major disappointment for both programs. The Orange are trekking toward their second season under .500 (2021-22) in the last 50 years. And North Carolina, which was ranked No. 9 in the AP Preseason Poll, is likely on the outside looking in of the NCAA Tournament.
Needing a win to bolster its ACC Tournament position, in which Syracuse had a 1.5-game lead over NC State for the final spot, it needed to again pull off an upset over the Tar Heels to create breathing room. Throughout much of the game, it didn’t look likely.
Early in the second half, UNC extended its lead to a game-high 11 points at 52-41. Much of its success stemmed from dominating behind the 3-point line, where it finished the game shooting 13-of-28. That dominance was propelled by freshman Ian Jackson, who finished with a team-high 23 points while canning five 3-pointers. The Orange meanwhile shot 4-of-13 from beyond the arc.
Despite Eddie Lampkin Jr. (26 points) and Lucas Taylor (10 points) keeping the contest close in the first half, SU needed J.J. Starling — who entered play averaging 18.6 points per game — to percolate to have a chance. After scoring just two first-half points, he did, finishing with 22 points.
Following a stretch of four straight points from the guard, SU’s deficit was cut to 57-52 with 13:32 remaining. Defensively, coming off allowing 91 points in a loss to ACC bottom dweller Miami on Tuesday, the Orange turned to a zone and forced a Seth Trimble miss. This led Starling to fire a transition 3.
But the attempt missed off the back iron, and an RJ Davis triple regained UNC a 60-52 lead at the 12:28 mark. Though Syracuse never let UNC extend its lead into double digits, propelled by Starling scoring four more points to cut the score to 60-57 midway through the half. Then, Starling drove the lane and connected on an and-one, tying the game 60-60 midway through the second half.
It was the closest Syracuse had gotten since a Chris Bell triple tied the game 19-19 on a 3-pointer. Though from there, the Tar Heels used a 20-9 run to help spark an eight-point halftime lead.
In the second half, UNC responded similarly but couldn’t dominantly close the game. While the Orange never led, Lampkin’s 18th point brought the score to 65-64 with 8:34 remaining. However, six straight points from UNC’s Jae’Lyn Withers, who scored a season-high 19 points, regained North Carolina a 73-64 lead a minute later.
Following Armando Bacot’s graduation, UNC has greatly lacked an interior presence. So, to get back in the game, the Orange went back to where they found the most success: getting the ball to Lampkin in the post. This resulted in four straight points, cutting SU’s deficit to 73-68 with just under six minutes remaining.
However, an Elliot Cadeau jumper and Davis triple, just his 13th point, extended North Carolina’s lead back to 10. While Jaquan Carlos and Starling helped cut Syracuse’s deficit to 79-73 with three-and-a-half minutes remaining, a Jackson transition layup brought the Tar Heels’ advantage back to eight a minute later.
From there, Syracuse turned to a full-court press, which resulted in a Starling steal and and-one, cutting the score to 81-76 at the 1:45 mark. On the ensuing possession, Davis was fouled but split his shots from the charity stripe. Starling then penetrated the lane, drawing a foul before nailing two free throws with 1:16 to bring SU within four.
Following Cadeau missing the front end of a one-and-one, Syracuse got the ball inside to Lampkin before he was fouled. The center made both free throws, getting the Orange within two with a minute left.
However, they couldn’t climb their way back. In the final minute, Cadeau blazed right by Carlos for an easy layup before Kyle Cuffe Jr. missed a 3 trying to get the game within one. Though he missed the mark, leading the Tar Heels to close out an 88-82 win.
In a disappointing season, there was no jubilation surrounding the JMA Wireless. It was a far cry from where the program was following its best win under Autry last year.
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