It took over 31 minutes of action for Tyler Lydon to make a field goal.
It doesn’t matter who Syracuse plays — that’s a major issue, and will be until it gets resolved. It’s been an issue all season, but tonight it felt like more of a burden than other nights. When the Orange needed a bucket during a big Georgia Tech run, Lydon disappeared. He was no where to be found for a majority of the game.
But even on a night where Lydon gave his team just seven points, he still had a huge impact on the game.
The sophomore forward grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in all 40 minutes of action. This was his ninth straight game of playing 40-or-more minutes, as two of those went into overtime.
Out of SU’s 28 games played this season, Lydon’s been held to single-digits nine times. It’s the third time in the last five games that Lydon has failed to reach double-figures.
Why is this?
Well, for starters the guards aren’t finding him. But he’s not making it any easier.
It seems like every game Lydon continues to pass up open looks. His unselfishness is almost getting to a point where he’s being selfish, because the Orange needs him to produce. And shoot. And score.
Otherwise we see games like Georgia Tech. Syracuse had ample opportunities throughout the second half to get it close, and its run at the end came up short.
John Gillon had another tough outing against the Yellow Jackets, and when the guards are turning the ball over — it’s hard for the forwards to get going.
Tyler Lydon & John Gillon: 0 points on 0-of-12 shooting, four turnovers.
— Syracuse Basketball (@cusesigel) February 20, 2017
That tweet was from roughly the 12-minute mark in the second half. And Syracuse was letting the game slip away.
But again, it seems like whenever SU gets down double-digits — the team wakes up. And it did again on Sunday. The Orange got it back to within a one possession game before a Tyler Roberson offensive foul call sealed it for the Yellow Jackets.
Moving forward — with three games remaining in the regular season — the Orange needs Lydon more than ever. SU hosts Duke on Wednesday before traveling to Louisville next Sunday.
Without Tyler Lydon playing at a high level, it’s hard to imagine SU winning either contest.