Syracuse's inability to play well down the stretch of close games could end up coming back to haunt them on Selection Sunday if it has not been a prominent theme in their nightmares already. The problem became even more evident on a national stage Saturday as the Orange, who led by six with 8:30 remaining in the second half, were unable to hold on to what would have been the biggest victory of the season so far against North Carolina.
The loss was the fourth-straight to start the conference schedule, and to make matters worse, all of the games were within two points heading into the last five minutes of regulation.