Jim Boeheim went on the Atlantic Coast Conference coaches teleconference on Monday afternoon and spoke about a number of topics, including Syracuse’s (13-8, 3-5 ACC) upcoming matchup with Notre Dame (14-5, 5-2) on Thursday at 7 p.m. and his team’s ability to limit fast-break scoring.

Here’s a recap of what he talked about.

Scouting Notre Dame

Notre Dame has the top adjusted offensive efficiency in the country, per Kenpom.com. And though Boeheim didn’t reference the advanced metrics, he knows what the Fighting Irish is capable of.

“Well I think they’re a very good offense team, I think they can score,” Boeheim said. “They score against anybody, they put points up, they can shoot it, they can score inside. I think they’re a really well-balanced team and I think that’s pretty much what people thought coming into the year. They’ve got the inside and outside attack and it’s very consistent and they’ve played very well in the league.”

UND shoots 38.7 percent from 3 and 55.8 percent from inside the arc, which ranks 11th in the nation, per Kenpom. The Fighting Irish put up 95 points in a road win at Duke, and scored at least 75 points in seven of its last nine games.

Boeheim also said the Orange is preparing as if UND starting point guard Demetrius Jackson is playing.

Preventing scoring on the fast break

The Orange has not allowed a single fast-break point in the past four games, and it’s coincided with some of SU’s best defensive performances on the year.

Syracuse has averaged just 11.3 turnovers in the last four games, which is below the season average. This ball protection has kept SU opponents from scoring out in transition.

“We always want to get back,” Boeheim said. “I think one of the things about fast break is that bad turnovers lead to fast breaks, and we haven’t done that. Our turnovers have not been turnovers that can get people out on the break. I think that’s one thing.

“Our guards, our perimeter people do get back … Tyler Roberson is a really good offensive rebounder, our other perimeter guys get back well. We need to get back and get our defense set, that’s important and we’ve done a good job of that. That’s very important.”

Upcoming schedule

Syracuse will play its next four games at home after playing five of the first eight conference games away from the Carrier Dome. Boeheim said it’s hard to create a schedule that makes everyone happy, and that teams will go through stretches of playing many games in a short span, and others will have a slew of off days.

Consecutive home games against Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Florida State provide the Orange with a chance to get back in the ACC race.

“Well there’s no question about it,” Boeheim said. “We knew it would be a tough start to the conference season with the schedule the way it was, and the teams that are there. They’re all really good teams, I thought that this next stretch of games would obviously be crucial and I think whatever our record was, this stretch of game it was always going to be crucial.”

Published on January 25, 2016 at 1:12 pm

Contact Sam: sblum@syr.edu | @SamBlum3