What’s the source of Syracuse’s offensive struggles this year?

Welcome (back) to the daily links! By popular request, you’ll once again be getting these Monday through Friday from around the Syracuse Orange -related interwebs and sometimes beyond.

Today’s top stories include a Syracuse.com dive into the Orange’s offensive struggles, plus an assessment of the wide-open ACC race this year. More below:

Why Syracuse basketball is struggling to score points (Syracuse.com)

Maybe it’s because he was called for so many illegal screens earlier this season, but in the Virginia game, Chukwu never made contact with Howard’s defender and slipped back toward the basket so quickly, he essentially left Howard in a double-team situation after Virginia’s hard hedge help lingered.

ACC basketball an open race driven beyond the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Tar Heels (Greenville News)

Variety enhances the entertainment value. It is part of the pageantry of college basketball. An ACC team could host an exclusively man-to-man foe Wednesday and visit an exclusively zone opponent Saturday. Each team employs a different approach, with the same desired destination — the championship podium.

Florida State’s Terance Mann’s versatility makes him key cog for FSU, draws comparisons to MCW (Daily Orange)

“He’s almost unselfish to a fault,” Young said, “If you gave him the option to put up 40 points on a team or have a complete game, say 13 rebounds, nine assists and four blocks, he would chose the latter every time. I don’t know a lot of kids that would say the same.”

Remembering Scott Kiernan: A ‘thoughtful’ bruiser who made Syracuse football fun (Syracuse.com)

On the field, he was a warrior, a throwback capable of playing in any era. His time on the hill coincided with sensational skill players, some of the best to play at SU. Scott left an impression on them because he was someone guys knew would go to bat for them with the coaching staff, a guy from an affluent section of Connecticut with a blue-collar work ethic and a cruddy car that betrayed any sense of entitlement.

After changing the arc of college career, goalie gets chance for payoff with Syracuse lacrosse (Syracuse.com)

“The kind of person that I think I am, I never want to think, what if I never tried? Would I ever be able to play at the next level? I never wanted to doubt myself,’’ Madonna said. “I always wanted to give myself a fair chance to do what I’ve always dreamed of doing. I’d done pretty well at Division II, so I figured maybe I have a chance at proving myself at the next level. I figured, let’s give it a shot.’’

Report: Heat’s Dion Waiters expected to undergo season-ending ankle surgery (CBS Sports)

‘Cuse community partnering with Orange women’s hoops (Cuse.com)

Syracuse women’s lacrosse comes in at No. 5 in preseason poll (Syracuse.com)

Syracuse basketball players reveal their favorite terrible movie (Syracuse.com)

After earning GA deal, Syracuse’s Adams loosk to make instant MLS impact at No. 6 (SBI Soccer)