While officially a neutral site matchup, Syracuse Basketball was effectively playing a road game against the Indiana Hoosiers on Monday night. Still, they put up more than a good effort, leading late in the game. It was a back-and-forth battle, but the Orange ultimately fell, 83-80.
Even in the loss, there was a lot to like about Syracuse Basketball. Here’s a look at some of the biggest takeaways from the game.
1. Ryan Moesch and Garwey Dual can be an effective backcourt
Dual is Syracuse’s lead guard due to his ball-handling and defensive capabilities. But he’s not a true scorer. That’s where freshman Moesch looks to come in, scoring a team-high 19 points off the bench in the game. He and Dual were a +8 for the Orange and playing them together could be the best lineup for the team on both ends of the floor. Moesch can still be an effective 6th Man for now but his play was massive for a team that’s been looking for offensive answers.
2. Kiyan Anthony bounced back after rough preseason campaign
In the preseason, Anthony looked as if he was going to be out of the rotation. But the hamstring injury to Temple transfer Aiden Tobiason has afforded him the opportunity to play extended minutes, which he has fully taken advantage of. He scored 16 points off the bench and leads the team with 15.7 ppg through three games. While his role may dip once Tobiason is healthy, Anthony has established himself as a legit part of the rotation.
3. Interior defense a genuine strength for the Orange
Former Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year Luke Wilson started for the Orange, scoring 11 points in 23 minutes. More importantly, he was able to anchor the interior, holding Samet Yigitoglu to just eight points in 26 minutes inside. While the wing scoring from the Hoosiers proved to be too much, Syracuse Basketball’s consistent ability to defend inside should put them in a position to win more times than not.
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