Syracuse, N.Y. —The Syracuse women’s basketball program woke up today sitting at fifth place in the ACC.
The Orange (19-5, 9-4 ACC) are currently on track for an NCAA Tournament bid, the second in four years under head coach Felisha Legette-Jack.
It’s not a bad place to be at all, but Sunday’s 84-65 loss to No. 6 Louisville served the Orange a slice of humble pie in its biggest test of the season and showed how much work Coach Jack has to do for SU to expect to challenge the top half of the ACC.
Louisville blitzed Syracuse in the first quarter, taking a 28-6 lead.
SU did not record a field goal in the opening frame, shooting 0-of-13 and keeping Orange fans on their feet in the traditional stand and clap until their feet hurt and hands had blisters.
It tied the lowest output for the first quarter or any quarter this season since SU scored six against No. 8 Michigan earlier this season.
“We just didn’t come out and throw the first punch,” SU guard Sophie Burrows said. “I think we just hurt ourselves in that sense.”
SU roared back in the second quarter to trail by eight at halftime (44-36) and got within five points twice in the second half.
“We all watched that second quarter. I think that was Syracuse basketball at its finest,” Burrows said. “That’s how we need to play for 40 minutes if we want to play with teams like Louisville. I think we’re more than capable.”
The Cardinals offensive machine simply overwhelmed Syracuse over four quarters.
Louisville, averaging 81.9 points per game coming into Sunday’s matchup, assisted on 20 of 33 field goals.
SU matched with just five helpers on 22 field goals.
Syracuse has a core of four players—Burrows, Dominique Darius, Laila Phelia and Uche Izoje—that all need to be on high octane in order for SU to expect to beat a top-level ACC team.
It got about 2-and-a-half of what was needed on Sunday.
Darius dropped 22 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting day (3-of-3 from distance), but also committed eight turnovers.
Izoje, a player the ACC may as well name its rookie of the week trophy after with her taking it six times this year, had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Beggars can’t be choosers, but SU needed more from its star center to beat a top 10 team.
Burrows had 11 points, but shot 4-of-18 against the Cardinals including just one three-pointer on eight attempts.
Phelia was held to just five points.
It felt like Syracuse was a player or two away from really competing with a team like Louisville, a squad that has made the NCAA Tournament in 14 consecutive seasons under coach Jeff Walz.
It just so happens that Kaleena Smith, the No. 1 player in the Class of 2027, was in the stands on an official visit to SU on Sunday.
Four-star prospect Amel Cook was also in town on an official visit, according to 247 Sports.
(Side note: Ladies, we swear it’s not always -5 degrees around here in the winter)
SU’s five losses this season (Michigan, Virginia Tech, Duke, UNC, Louisville) have come by an average of 18.2 points.
All but Virginia Tech are currently ranked.
Louisville was one of its last chances to punch up and draw a line on the wall to demonstrate SU’s growth.
SU has five games to go in the regular season. None are currently ranked.
We’ll see how the Orange shore that up and put itself in the best position for an NCAA seed.
ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme currently has SU lined up as a No. 8 seed to play No. 9 USC in Storrs, Connecticut.
Should SU beat USC in this hypothetical, I don’t have to remind you who would await next.
Let’s just say that team has a won a women’s national title or two in its day.
There may opponents on a line you can draw that Syracuse can’t reach on its tippy toes right now, but the Orange can improve its NCAA seeding in the next five games and improve on a record of quick exits from the ACC Tournament.
Syracuse is certainly in a better spot now that it was last year on the way to a 12-18 losing season.
It just needs to find that next proverbial level to knock off a team on a higher shelf.
“I’m just looking for more energy, less fear, more connection, more sisterhood,” Legette-Jack said. “I want this team to be with me, always grateful. I don’t want this to end. I love these 15 kids. They are absolutely amazing. Young ladies that’s trying to be phenomenal.
“They just fell short and weren’t good enough today, and that’s the truth.”
We talked about all that and more on Syracuse basketball postgame, presented by Crouse Health.
The full show is available above in the YouTube clip.
Listen to our postgame show on “Syracuse Sports”, available on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher and wherever you listen to podcasts.