Quite the (bad) stat.
Syracuse basketball’s 20-point loss on Sunday to No. 7 Louisville was its worst since joining the ACC in 2013-14.
Today's 20-point loss to Louisville was Syracuse's worst loss in a conference game since joining the ACC in 2013-14. pic.twitter.com/naSA3ELXI3
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 26, 2017
It didn’t feel like Syracuse’s worst loss in ACC play, but, according to the score, it was. The 20-point loss was the most ever by the Orange in an ACC game, but that doesn’t necessarily make it the “worst.”
Syracuse’s 15-point loss to Boston College earlier this season was its worst loss in league play since joining the conference, and I don’t think there’s much room for debate.
In the 2013-14 season, Syracuse lost by 19 points at Virginia, which was the team’s worst loss of that season. SU went 14-4 in the ACC.
In the 2014-15 season, the Orange lost by 19 at Duke. SU went 9-9 in the ACC.
And last season, Syracuse lost by 15 points to both North Carolina and Florida State to close out the regular season. The Orange, again, went 9-9 in league play.
Jim Boeheim has said it time and time again: it’s not by how much you win or lose by, but how you play.
Against Louisville on Sunday, Syracuse didn’t play well by any means, and rebounding was the main issue.
Against Boston College earlier this season, everything was going wrong for the Orange and the Eagles hit, what felt like, everything.
You can explain a 20-point loss to Louisville, who has been a powerhouse program for a while. But it’s hard to explain a 15-point loss to Boston College — a team that went winless in league play last season.
And this loss can be easily erased, as most expected the Orange to lose in the first place. But a win on Saturday would put Syracuse at 18 regular-season victories, and gives the team momentum heading into the ACC Tournament in Brooklyn.
A loss, well, that may very well put the Orange out of the Tournament. With just 17 wins, and a likely second round matchup with Virginia — it would be a tough road ahead for an up-and-down team.
But as always, SU controls its own destiny. Whether that’s for better or worse — we’ll see.
