Syracuse Gets Much-Needed Victory Over UConn

by David Cassilo / @dcassilo

It seems strange that a team that started 18-0 could be desperate for a victory just five games later, but that was the case for Syracuse after it had dropped four straight games. The Orange were finally able to silence the negative talk around the team Wednesday night when it won at UConn, 66-58.

It was the team’s defensive effort that sparked the win for Syracuse. In its four straight losses, Syracuse had allowed at least 74 points. Things were different Wednesday, as the Orange held the Huskies to just 36.2 percent shooting from the field and locked down on Kemba Walker, who finished with a season-low 8 points.

The Player of the Year candidate did not deflect the blame on his off-night.

From The Hartford Courant:

Walker made his first two shots before finishing 1-for-12.

“I didn’t get good shots,” Walker said. “I think with their defense, they made sure I didn’t get good shots. They did a great job taking away my opportunities.”

The win for Syracuse jumbles the Big East even further, with the Orange being arguably the toughest team to read. While they picked up a statement victory on the road at Storrs, this is the same team that got pummeled at home by Seton Hall. The question remains, which version of this team is the real one?