Syracuse Men's Basketball Struggles Against Top ACC Teams

Orange lose by 37 points to No. 3 Duke, highlighting talent and discipline gap

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The Syracuse men's basketball team was thoroughly outmatched in a 101-64 loss to No. 3 Duke on the road. The Orange struggled to keep up with the Blue Devils' size, physicality, and disciplined play, falling behind by 16 points at halftime and never recovering. Syracuse has now lost by double-digits to several of the top teams in the ACC this season, including Duke, Virginia, and North Carolina.

Why it matters

The lopsided loss to Duke underscores the significant gap between Syracuse and the elite programs in the ACC. While the Orange have talent, they have struggled with focus, discipline, and the ability to match up physically against the conference's top teams, who have built dominant rosters through elite recruiting. This raises questions about Syracuse's ability to compete at the highest level in the ACC this season.

The details

Duke raced out to a 16-point halftime lead and never looked back, shooting an astounding 71.9% from the field in the second half. The Blue Devils' size and physicality overwhelmed Syracuse, with their starting frontcourt standing 6'8", 6'9", and 6'11". In contrast, the Orange's tallest starters are 6'9". Duke also harassed Syracuse with relentless ball pressure, forcing turnovers and limiting open looks. The Orange simply could not match the discipline and execution of the Blue Devils.

  • The game took place on Monday, February 17, 2026 in Durham, North Carolina.

The players

Duke Blue Devils

The No. 3 ranked Duke Blue Devils, led by head coach Jon Scheyer, have built a dominant program through elite recruiting, including the nation's top recruiting class for four consecutive years.

Syracuse Orange

The Syracuse Orange, led by head coach Adrian Autry, have struggled to keep pace with the top teams in the ACC this season, falling to Duke, Virginia, and North Carolina by double-digit margins.

Cameron Boozer

Duke's 6'11" freshman forward, who could be a contender for national player of the year.

William Kyle

A Syracuse player who acknowledged the Orange's lack of discipline and inability to match the physicality of the top ACC teams.

Tyler Betsey

A Syracuse player who noted that the Orange's mistakes are capitalized on by the elite teams in the ACC.

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What they’re saying

“They were the better team, and we give them all the credit.”

— William Kyle, Syracuse Player (syracuse.com)

“Those games that you're talking about (Duke, UVa, UNC), I think those are probably the more physical teams. Big guys that are really big and physical and that can impact the game. Carolina's front line and Duke's front line and Virginia's front line – all those guys can step out, shoot, pass. But I think the physicality is the biggest difference.”

— Adrian Autry, Syracuse Head Coach (syracuse.com)

“They made us pay for all the little things; not being in the right spots at the right times. I mean, that's what great teams do.”

— William Kyle, Syracuse Player (syracuse.com)

“Teams like that, they make you pay for your mistakes. You can't make the same mistakes that you can make versus a team that's not as good. I feel like we're just as talented but we just make more mistakes and then good teams capitalize off those mistakes.”

— Tyler Betsey, Syracuse Player (syracuse.com)

The takeaway

Syracuse's lopsided loss to Duke highlights the significant talent and discipline gap between the Orange and the top teams in the ACC. While Syracuse has talent, they have struggled to match the size, physicality, and execution of elite programs like Duke, Virginia, and North Carolina. Closing this gap will require Syracuse to improve its focus, discipline, and ability to compete against the conference's best teams.