Coach: Jim Boeheim

The basketball season opened up in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. There would be protocols in place to try to protect the health of the players, but the season would still experience a lot of disruptions. The team had lost Elijah Hughes who went to the NBA, and the three reserve guards Jalen Carey, Howard Washington, and Brycen Goodine all transferred. The Orange had a talented freshman guard Kadary Richmond join the team and Alan Griffin transferred from Illinois.

The Orange season was immediately impacted by Covid-19. Coach Jim Boeheim caught the illness along with one of the players in mid-November. This forced the team to quarantine for 10 days and they were able to practice only one day before the season opener against Bryant. The Orange would struggle that day, but ultimately win 85-84. Marek Dolezaj would have 20 points and 10 assists to help the team to the win. Unfortunately Bourama Sidibe would tear the meniscus in his left knee only 4 minutes and 23 seconds into the game, effectively ending his season.

Buddy Boeheim would be exposed to Covid-19 and would have to miss the Rider, Niagara, and Rutgers games as a result. The lack of Buddy's presence was evident in the Rutgers game where the team desperately needed him as an offensive option.

The Orange faced the Buffalo Bulls and trailed by 16 points in the second half. Coach Boeheim switched to man-to-man pressure defense which got the team back into the game. Griffin would make a game saving block on a Bull lay up as time expired, sending the game into overtime. The Orange would have a strong overtime period and win 107-96. Quincy Guerrier led the way with 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Griffin was right behind him with 20 points and 10 boards.

The Orange were exposed to Covid-19 during the Buffalo game, and this would force the team to postpone the Notre Dame, Wake Forest, and North Carolina games, rescheduling them later in the season. Buddy Boeheim, Joe Girard, Woody Newton, and Frank Anselem would all contract the disease, which would hamper them upon resumption of play.

The Orange would struggle offensively when they resumed playing. The Orange led Pitt by 18 points, but the Panthers would fight back and take the lead in the last minute of the game to win 63-60. Syracuse played rival Georgetown next, and won 74-69. Robert Braswell played well in the second half of the game, including a key block to keep the lead. Dolezaj would take an elbow to the month late in the game, and would lose a tooth. He would finish the game with a gaping smile.

Syracuse would again lose to Pitt with another embarrassing collapse. This time they had a five point half time lead before defensively giving up 64 second half points to the Panthers. Boeheim and Girard combined to shoot 0 for 11 from three point range as the entire team shot poorly.

The Orange offensive struggles continues, with the team making only three baskets in the first half in a loss to Clemson. Coach Boeheim started playing Kadary Richmond more to help with the ball control as well as the defensive presence he helped bring.

The Louisville game on February 3rd was canceled because of Covid issues with the Cardinals.

The Orange trailed Notre Dame by 20 points in the second half. The team would switch to a full court press, which helped defensively. Buddy would have a very hot half scoring 20 points after halftime on his way to 29 for the game. The Orange would complete the comeback with a 75-67 win. Guerrier had a huge second half with 10 rebounds.

Dolezaj would get into foul trouble very early in the Georgia Tech game. He would play only 10 minutes in the entire game before fouling out. Jesse Edwards was required to step in and played admirably with 7 points and 8 rebounds. Griffin had a very hot first half carrying the team with 20 points. Unfortunately it was not enough as the Orange lost 84-77.

The Orange would beat North Carolina 72-70 behind Buddy's 29 point effort. The Orange were starting to play better and they were going to need some help as they entered the ACC Tournament. They would easily beat Clemson 64-54 on the last regular season game behind Griffin's 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Buddy would continue his hot shooting into the post season. His 27 points helped lead the Orange to a 89-68 ACC tournament win over North Carolina State. Buddy would score a season high 31 points against Virginia in the second round. It was not quite enough as the Cavaliers won 72-69.

Syracuse would make the NCAA tournament and face San Diego State in the first round. The Orange trailed the favored Aztecs 18-14 in the first half, when Buddy would make sixteen straight points for the Orange. He would continue his hot shooting in the second half, including some amazing shot clock beating shots on his way to a 30 point night. The Syracuse bench players played well in the second half, helping the Orange to clamp down on the Aztecs, and the Orange zone defense once again stymied a team in the NCAA tournament.

Syracuse faced heavily favored West Virginia in the next round of the tournament. The Orange zone defense had the Mountaineers stymied in the first half, but the Orange struggled offensively themselves. Syracuse however was abe to get a lead of 30-16, which the Mountaineers closed to 35-29 at the half. Dolezaj picked up his third foul right before the half, putting the Orange defense in jeopardy. Both Dolezaj and Edwards would pick up their fourth fouls very early in the second half, and things looked bad for the Orange. Buddy would have a very hot second half with 22 points keeping the Orange in the game. The Mountaineers took the lead 53-52 with nine minutes to go. The Orange retook the lead with just over six minutes to go and held on down the stretch. The Orange struggled with the West Virginia pressure defense in the last minute, but the team was able to hold on for the win. Guerrier had five crucial blocks in the game, and Braswell played very well.

The Orange faced #5 Houston in the Sweet Sixteen. Unfortunately the heroics would be limited in this game as the Houston guards clamped down well on the Syracuse shooting game. The Orange would lose 62-46 ending the season. But they had given the fans some post season excitement with a couple of big upsets.

© RLYoung 2020, 2021