Syracuse Basketball: 3 takeaways for Orange from blowout loss to Virginia

Defensive Communication Must Improve

As the captains for Boeheim’s 2-3 zone, Joe Girard and Buddy Boeheim naturally drew some heavy post-game criticism after the team surrendered 14 three-pointers to Virginia. While running a zone defense, communication is everything, and Tuesday night’s game absolutely exposed how flimsy the defensive connection between Girard and Boeheim currently stands.

Far too often, Boeheim and Girard found themselves in the wrong spot at the wrong time, consequently allowing an open shot for the Cavaliers. Additionally, whenever the team failed to corral a defensive rebound last night, the duo almost always looked confused and discombobulated in trying to recover and establish proper positioning.

Boeheim especially wields the ability to play as a top-tier defender, earning the fourth-highest defensive rating amongst all ACC players last year. Girard too still maintains enough lateral quickness to make up for his height, so an equation involving Girard, Boeheim, and solid defense is possible.

However, fixing this issue remains a task far overdue with the team now more than halfway through its season. Benching Girard for Kadary Richmond seems like the more immediate and plausible solution, especially once considering how well Richmond runs the zone. But if Girard wants to remain a starter, mending his communication with Boeheim is where he needs to start.