Tyler Lydon did all he could but his supporting cast couldn't give enough help to come away with a win.
They kept it interesting for the most part, but the Syracuse Orange’s comeback was too little, too late for it to be successful. SU kept it reasonably close throughout using the long ball as a deadly asset, but they couldn’t string together enough stops to pull together a win.
Tyler Lydon has been the star for the Orange since the beginning of the season, however his inconsistent play has kept Syracuse in this standstill of a season. Recently, Lydon has looked more comfortable in the offense hitting his three-point shot with ease. The sophomore forward has always been SU’s go to player in stressful situations, and tonight’s performance only bodes well for the future.
The Orange fell 85-68 to the North Carolina Tar Heels, but because this season has seen losing as a common trend, positives have been the best thing to look for once the buzzer sounds. The zone was inconsistent and the balance in the starting lineup was missing, but Lydon’s performance is worthy of recognition from this outing.
Lydon finished with 26 points and seven rebounds on 11-for-14 shooting from the field. His confidence was at an all-time high, stepping into his shot with a desire to knock down the three. Once Lydon gets his three going, his whole game opens up, and tonight proved just that. He’s essential for any amount of Syracuse success, and while his dominant performance may not have been enough, his newfound confidence could be used for a hopeful March Madness entry.
His efficiency on offense opens up the game for the entire roster, allowing long-range shooters to get going all over the court. The second half showed a much more active Andrew White III as he got more space than before due to Lydon’s hot hand. Lydon is where the offense begins, and if the defense knows he’s a threat than everyone else in orange can have an easier time on the floor.
But the Orange need a complete performance from their entire roster to pull off wins against teams like North Carolina. What was thought to be a team ready for dominance has turned into the opposite. If they want to compete down the line, then SU’s going to need to learn how to win games they aren’t favored in.
The season continues to go downhill with another loss entering the right side of the column, but if Lydon can continue to dominate defenses like today then the Orange may be able to pull off enough upsets to to play their way into March Madness.
