NCAA Basketball: What we learned from opening days of 2019-20 season

1) Syracuse is going to be BAD

34 points scored, the fewest since 1945. 23.6 percent shooting, including 17.2 percent from three. Outrebounded 47-28.

Chances are you’ve seen the numbers by now, but Syracuse was absolutely smothered at home by the reigning national champions, who were breaking in three new starters. The Orange had to find four new starters of their own, and the results were a resounding yikes.

I picked Syracuse to finish 11th in my ACC preseason rankings because they don’t have any scoring punch outside of Elijah Hughes. Buddy Boeheim and Marek Dolezaj took the second and third most shots on the team, respectfully, in that loss, and neither player can be relied on to create their own offense.

Any team coached by Tony Bennett will be one of the country’s best defensively and, after the game Jim Boeheim chalked up their struggles to how good Virginia played on that end of the court.

"“I thought they’d be better defensively than they were last year. I think they’re maybe better or at least as good. We could get by them a little bit last year, we couldn’t this year. They’re one of the few teams that can do that to you. “Right now, our offense isn’t good enough to play against that defense. They’re too physical, too strong. They just take you out. The shots we got were tough.”"

To be frank, I don’t think Syracuse’s offense is good enough to up against any defense right now. Sure, they’re obviously going to score more than 34 points per game and shoot better from the field – Virginia did make all the Orange’s weaknesses worse – but there is no savior walking through that door.

Hughes in the only player that can create shots for himself. Boeheim is almost strictly a three-point shooter and Dolezaj needs someone to create for him. No one on the bench appears ready to help, either, as they combined to shoot 2/13 from the field.

Things are going to get worse for Syracuse before they get better.