By this point, it should surprise nobody when the Orange struggles away from the Dome. After the loss to Louisville, SU is just 2-10. Those two include an overtime game that needed 43 points and a buzzer beater at the end of regulation by John Gillon, and another game that ended on a buzzer beating three by Tyus Battle. And in each game, the Orange has looked worse than in any game at home.
It is understandable for teams to perform worse in road or neutral site games than at home. But the gap should be quite as large as it has been for the Orange this year. Take the two Louisville games for example. In the game at the Dome, the Orange forced overtime and lost by just 4, while on the road it lost by 20. In Chestnut Hill to play Boston College, the Orange lost by 15. At home, SU beat down the Eagles, winning by 23.
Over the first 35 seasons in the Carrier Dome, the Orange lost an average of 3 games in the Dome each year. This year, they have lost 3 games in the Dome. The difference between this year, and any other year in which the Orange dominated is road games. Split the road games this season, and the Orange sits at 21-9 ahead of its season finale. Win a third of the road games, and the Orange sits at 19-11 headed into the season finale.
That’s the difference this year from any other year. Road play.
Of course, the ACC Tournament isn’t played in the Carrier Dome (although it is in Brooklyn and that could shape up to be a pro-SU crowd for Syracuse games). And the NCAA Tournament isn’t played in the Dome. This proves problematic for the Orange.
Why are there such struggles away from the Dome? It’s hard to pinpoint, but the energy level and intensity on defense seem to be at a much higher level at home. That seems to be the most obvious. The defense hasn’t been up to par on the road. Allowing 88 points at Louisville, 96 points at BC, 85 at UNC, 84 at Notre Dame, 100 at NC State and 82 at Clemson. The Orange defense has been porous on the road.
The struggles defensively were on display once again on Sunday against Louisville, and it led to a Louisville blowout of the Orange.