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Syracuse Earns Date With Top Seed Duke After Drubbing of Florida State

The Syracuse bench celebrates during its second win of the season over Florida State.
Cuse.com
The Syracuse bench celebrates during its second win of the season over Florida State.

Syracuse dominated Florida State in the second round of the ACC Tournament Wednesday afternoon. WAER's Ethan Frank explains how the Orange were able to have so much success against the Seminoles, and what’s to come in the next round.

Syracuse men’s basketball picked a great time for its most dominant win of the season. SU took down Florida State 96-57 in the second round of the ACC Tournament in Brooklyn on Wednesday. It was dominance from start to finish for the Orange, who only trailed twice the entire afternoon.

Cole Swider started hot, stayed hot, and got to sit out the final 12 minutes of the game because the game was so far out of reach. The senior finished with 28 points on 9-15 shooting with four made threes. Swider added 13 rebounds as well for his sixth double-double of the season.

Cole Swider (21) went 4-6 from three-point range against Florida State in Syracuse’s 39-point win.
Cuse.com
Cole Swider (21) went 4-6 from three-point range against Florida State in Syracuse’s 39-point win.

“In the zone, it’s about reading the ball of the rim…at Villanova, I was playing outside a lot,” Swider said after the game. Wednesday marked the second time in three games the Villanova transferred scored at least 25 points, the only two times he’s done it all season.

On the season, Swider is now shooting 42% from three, a career-best. Joe Girard and Buddy Boeheim also contributed at least three triples apiece to supplement Swider. However, there was some controversy with Boeheim in the first half after it looked like he punched Florida State’s, Wyatt Wilkes.

FSU Head Coach Leonard Hamilton had nothing but kind words to say about Boeheim after the game.

“I saw the play. There’s not a better kid in the ACC than Buddy Boeheim. I don’t want anything to take away from how well they played and the type of kid he is. … so we’re going to move on,” Hamilton said.

Buddy Boeheim (35) finished with 14 points against Florida State.
Cuse.com
Buddy Boeheim (35) finished with 14 points against Florida State.

But, Buddy’s father wasn’t as complimentary.

“He got pushed and turned around and retaliated,” Boeheim said. “He shouldn’t have done it.”

That play was the only blemish on Syracuse’s record in what was an all-around performance. Frank Anselem and Symir Torrence shined off the bench. It was Torrence’s first game back since he suffered a concussion against Duke.

The junior guard finished with nine points and nine assists in 29 minutes of play. Anselem stuffed the stat sheet as well. The sophomore center had nine points, 15 rebounds (including nine offensive), four assists, and three blocks. It was arguably the best all-around game of his career.

Symir Torrence (10) played for the first time since Feb. 26 against Duke.
Cuse.com
Symir Torrence (10) played for the first time since Feb. 26 against Duke.

Next up for the Orange is the team they’ve struggled with most this season. Ninth-seeded Syracuse faces top-seeded Duke for the third time. The Blue Devils have won each of the first two matchups by at least 20 points.

The Orange have started very slow in their first two matchups with Duke, going down by double-digits in the first few minutes of each game. For them to have a chance to upset the Blue Devils, they better start fast.

“Staying positive when you’re in practice, having confidence is a big thing,” Girard said postgame. “When you see the ball go in early it draws a lot of confidence for you and the team.”

GZA Countdown to tipoff is at 11:30 a.m. again Thursday before a noon tip from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.