Syracuse was done in by it's interior defense on Sunday.
Following the Syracuse Orange's 73-65 loss to the Virginia Cavaliers on Sunday Jim Boeheim has a lot to say. Much of it was about the way the team is struggling on defense.
"We’ve struggled all year in there," Boeheim said. "We’re giving centers All-American years. We cannot play defense inside. I think that’s pretty painfully obvious right now. Guys that average five points a game, average 18, 19, 20 against us.
"Our perimeter defense has been pretty good all year. Our inside defense is just not existent."
He added that Virginia's big three-point evening (44.4 percent) had a lot to do with SU's guards having to help out inside.
"If our guards have to help that much inside,'' said Boeheim, "then they're going to be wide open at the 3-point line. We have to defend better.''
Boeheim also had plenty to say about Virginia's Malcolm Brogdon, who scored 21 and seemingly-iced the game with two clutched three-pointers late.
"We had a couple opportunities there, but Brogdon stepped up, he had two big 3s," Boeheim said. "That’s what seniors do. That really was, I thought, the difference in the game. I thought we played much better defense in the second half. I think we forced about nine or 10 turnovers in the second half with our defense. I thought the difference was Brogdon made the two 3s and Perrantes made the 3 in the corner. Those are big shots."
Ultimately, however, Boeheim reminded everyone that if Syracuse wants to win, they have to score more points than the other team.
"Well you have to shoot the ball," Boeheim said. "Virginia doesn’t give you much inside. You’ve got to move the ball. I thought we moved the ball. We made them change, switch or help. We got some open looks. You have to make some of those shots."
