ACC Basketball: Syracuse misses opportunity to upset Louisville

Feb 11, 2017; Louisville, KY, USA; Louisville Cardinals forward Deng Adel (22) shoots against Miami (Fl) Hurricanes guard Bruce Brown (11) and forward Dewan Huell (20) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Louisville defeated Miami 71-66. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports /

Louisville holds off Syracuse in overtime at the Carrier Dome in a Big Monday ACC basketball showdown.

Big Monday at the Carrier Dome was a chance for Syracuse to notch their biggest win of the 2016-17 season. Sure, they have beaten Virginia and Florida State in the Dome, but Louisville presented yet another opportunity to make the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee forget about their losses to Georgetown, St. John’s and UConn earlier in the season.

The Orange forced overtime (thanks to a huge three-pointer by John Gillon), but in the extra period Louisville flexed their muscles on the interior, prevailing 76-72.

The Cardinals had five players score in double figures, including Donovan Mitchell, who led the team with 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Quentin Snider chipped in 14, Deng Adel had 11 and seven rebounds and Anas Mahmoud had a big game off the bench, scoring 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds.

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For Syracuse, Andrew White III continued his red-hot play of late by scoring 22 points. However, the Nebraska transfer shot just 7-of-24 from the field and 2-of-14 from three. Gillon had the game-tying shot, but he also was inefficient and inconsistent on the day, shooting just 3-of-11 from the floor and turning the ball over an inexcusable five times.

The Orange, as a team, shot 8-of-34 from beyond the arc and turned the ball over 15 total times. They were also dominated on the glass (46-38) and gave up 15 key offensive rebounds, including multiple critical boards in overtime.

Jim Boeheim’s team remained in the game because of 16 assists on 26 turnovers and their zone bothered the Cardinals for the majority of the evening. Louisville had 15 turnovers themselves and shot just 32 percent against a defense that is easier to crack when the opposing team is knocking down their perimeter jumpers.

Overall, this is just another night in the ACC. Louisville is a top 10 team that has the potential to earn a number one seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament — if they can win the regular season title and make a long run in the ACC Tournament. A top 50 win like this not only helps their resume but has them one step closer to actually winning the regular season title in one of the greatest leagues of all-time (the Cardinals are tied for second at 9-4).

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Meanwhile, the Orange are still on pace to make the Big Dance. However, two of their final four games are on the road (where Syracuse has struggled), and they must play both Duke and Louisville. Do the Orange have to go 3-1 to feel safe? It might be likely.

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