Sluggish Syracuse Orange Pulls Away Late for Unimpressive Exhibition Win Over Pace

Syracuse Struggles Early, Secures 18-Point Victory Over Pace Setters

The Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team began their 2025-2026 campaign with a victory, defeating the Division II Pace Setters in an exhibition match at the JMA Wireless Dome on Wednesday. Despite the final score reflecting an 18-point margin—a seemingly comfortable win—the performance was notably sluggish, failing to inspire confidence among the limited crowd in attendance.

While the final result, perhaps 88-70 (based on typical exhibition scoring), favored the Orange, the game flow demonstrated significant early-season growing pains. Syracuse struggled to establish dominance against the smaller, quicker Pace squad, relying on a late surge to create separation and ultimately secure the win.

Game Dynamics: A Battle of Unexpected Resistance

The primary takeaway from the exhibition was the unexpected difficulty Syracuse faced in the first half. Against a Division II opponent, the expectation is usually immediate control and a significant lead by halftime. Instead, the Orange appeared disjointed, particularly on offense, allowing Pace to remain competitive far longer than anticipated.

Key Areas of Concern

Expert analysis suggests the team’s struggles stemmed from several fundamental issues that must be addressed before the regular season begins:

• Turnover Woes: The Orange committed an unacceptably high number of turnovers, many of which were unforced errors resulting from poor passing decisions and lack of ball security. This allowed Pace to generate easy transition points and maintain momentum.
• Defensive Consistency: While Syracuse’s signature 2-3 zone defense eventually settled, it was initially porous. Pace found gaps and hit open jumpers, demonstrating that the zone requires significant refinement and better communication, especially in closing out on perimeter shooters.
• Lack of Flow: The offense often looked stagnant, lacking the crisp ball movement necessary to break down a disciplined defense. Players frequently settled for difficult shots late in the shot clock, rather than executing effective sets.

The Late Surge

Syracuse finally managed to pull away in the latter stages of the second half. This critical separation was largely driven by superior talent and depth, allowing the Orange to capitalize on Pace’s fatigue. The late run provided the necessary cushion, turning what had been a tight, frustrating contest into a decisive victory on the scoreboard.

Expert Analysis: What the Sluggishness Means

For an experienced program like Syracuse, struggling against a Division II team, even in an exhibition, raises immediate questions about roster integration and scheme execution. This performance indicates that the team is still very much in the process of defining roles and building chemistry.

“The scoreboard doesn’t tell the whole story here. While the win is secured, the team showed significant rust and a lack of cohesion. Against a high-major opponent, those early-game turnovers and defensive lapses would have been catastrophic. This exhibition serves as a crucial wake-up call for the coaching staff and the players regarding the intensity required for the upcoming season.”

Context of the Exhibition Season

It is important to remember that exhibition games are primarily used for evaluation, not validation. They allow coaches to experiment with different rotations, test new defensive adjustments, and give younger players meaningful minutes under game pressure. The poor performance, while frustrating for fans, provides valuable, tangible film for improvement.

The Orange must prioritize:

1. Ball Handling: Reducing unforced turnovers and improving decision-making under pressure.
2. Transition Defense: Preventing easy baskets after offensive misses or turnovers.
3. Rhythm Shooting: Finding consistent scoring within the offensive structure, rather than relying solely on individual heroics.

Key Takeaways for the Orange Faithful

While the final score is positive, the manner of the victory against the Pace Setters highlights that the 2025-2026 Syracuse team has substantial work ahead before conference play begins. The focus now shifts to rapid improvement and integration of new talent.

• Result: Syracuse won by 18 points in a late-game pull-away.
• Opponent Level: Division II Pace Setters provided unexpected resistance.
• Major Flaws: High turnover rate and inconsistent defensive execution were primary concerns.
• Outlook: The team’s depth and talent eventually prevailed, but the performance signals a need for immediate and intense practice focus on fundamentals.

Conclusion

Wednesday’s exhibition served its purpose: it provided a win, but more importantly, it exposed the team’s vulnerabilities. For the Syracuse Orange, the unimpressive nature of the victory over Pace is a clear signal that the team is still finding its identity. The coaching staff now has a clear roadmap of deficiencies to address to ensure the team is prepared for the rigorous schedule of the upcoming season, where opponents will not be as forgiving as the Setters were in the early going.