Syracuse, N.Y. - From year to year, the Syracuse basketball team's success is usually predicated on the effectiveness of its 2-3 zone defense.
Last year, Syracuse's zone was the worst it has been in nearly a quarter-century. The Orange allowed opponents to make 43 percent of their shots. It marked the highest percentage given up by Syracuse since the 1992-93 season when teams shot 43.1 percent from the field.
Syracuse ranked ninth in the ACC in 3-point percentage defense with opponents hitting 34.2 percent from beyond the arc against the zone.
"We're just used to being better than that,'' Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said.