Not much went right for Syracuse men's basketball (16-11, 9-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) in its 22-point loss to Duke (19-8, 10-6 ACC). The Orange's guards struggled to defend from the perimeter, allowing the Blue Devils to shoot 50% from beyond the arc. SU's 55 points were its fewest in nearly three months when it scored 44 against Illinois on November 29.
LISTEN: @Cuse_MBB was ran out of the gym in a 77-55 loss to @DukeMBB. The Orange have now lost eight straight contests against the Blue Devils. @iunzy_ and @Calchristo1 had the call. pic.twitter.com/WqUG9DrNdP
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) February 19, 2023
But the game started well for Syracuse. Judah Mintz threw down two dunks in transition, and a Joe Girard III triple gave the Orange a four-point advantage seven minutes in.
Judah turning defense into offense 🔨@Jmintz10 | ESPN pic.twitter.com/C1CZjHn6pn
— Syracuse Men’s Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) February 18, 2023
That was all the momentum the 'Cuse would provide. Over the next 10 minutes, Duke went on a 31-8 run, totally blowing the game open. Led by Dariq Whitehead's three long balls, the Blue Devils drilled seven in that span. The visitors finished 8 for 14 from distance in the game's first 20 minutes. Mintz was the lone bright spot for Syracuse in the first half, racking up 10 points and three steals. However, Duke took a 13-point lead to the locker room.
"Our offense never was working, in reality. Judah made some really good individual plays, but we never got anything going as a group," head coach Jim Boeheim said.
Mintz and Girard helped get the Orange within nine, but Jeremy Roach always had an answer for the Blue Devils. The junior tallied 10 points in the second half, six of them coming from long range. Kyle Filipowski outmatched Jesse Edwards in the paint, snatching seven more rebounds in the half and finishing with his 12th double-double of the season. The freshman also did damage behind the arc and finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
LISTEN: Duke's Kyle Filipowski showed off his range with a three-pointer to extend the Blue Devils lead. @Calchristo1 had the call.
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) February 19, 2023
🎙️@waer883, https://t.co/BG0Q3sGq3P pic.twitter.com/24XqZsSEP2
Other than Mintz and Girard, the rest of the Syracuse roster combined for 16 points. Center Jesse Edwards disappeared in the post, finishing with five points and five boards in 37 minutes. It was the Dutchman's second-lowest scoring output this season and tied for a season-low in rebounds.
"I didn't think [Duke] would be able to stop Jesse like that. I really didn't," Boeheim said. "[Duke] kept him outside the lane and he just couldn't get to where he could get a shot."
Despite combining for 31 minutes, Chris Bell and Justin Taylor were both held without points for the second time, the first being against Colgate on November 15.
Syracuse looks to get back in the win column against Clemson down in Death Valley on Wednesday night. The Tigers dropped their last game 83-73 against Louisville on Saturday. Our coverage on WAER begins at 6:30 with McClurg Team Countdown to Tip-Off.