Notebook: Syracuse defense shows signs of improvement

Syracuse couldn’t hold on against bitter rival Georgetown, losing 75-71. After this loss, Syracuse is now 0-5 against Power Five opponents.

Here are three observations from the game.

The defense has struggled throughout the season. Entering today, Syracuse was allowing an average of 80 points per game, which ranks 22nd worst in Division 1. Against Georgetown, they showed improvement by allowing just 75 points.

Improvement could come from Syracuse’s two rotation pieces: senior forward Jyare Davis and senior guard Lucas Taylor, who have had a significant impact on defense.

They were the only two players with a positive plus-minus in today’s game.

Taylor pointed out that his intensity was a big help when playing defense.

“I kind of take the approach of playing as hard as I can,” Taylor said.

The combination of this intensity and the coaches’ strategy appears to create a bright future for Taylor and the defense.

Senior point guard Jaquan Carlos had his best game as an Orange. He scored 15 points and had five assists, having his biggest impact with a tie at 56 in the second half. He went to the free throw line three times in a row and went 6-6.

Then, five minutes later, he scored a corner 3-pointer. These nine points in five minutes are more than Carlos’ average all season.

“I think I became more comfortable playing in my own rhythm,” Carlos said. “With JJ (Starling) out, they need me to step up and score more, so I’m doing a better job with that.”

Because both teams struggled behind the arc today, most of the scoring came from inside the paint. This led to a battle between senior Eddie Lampkin Jr. and freshman Thomas Sorber, who scored 18 and 16 points, respectively.

Lampkin had a slight advantage in points, although Sorber’s team came away with the victory.

The positive news for Syracuse is that Eddie Lampkin played 35 minutes, the most since the overtime game against Youngstown St.

Lampkin downplayed the battle between the big two, calling it “just a regular game.”

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