Coming off back-to-back losses, Syracuse (12-4, 1-2 Atlantic Coast) gets arguably its toughest matchup of the season when it travels to Charlottesville to take on No. 3 Virginia (14-1, 3-0) on Tuesday night.

Virginia currently ranks first in the country in points allowed per game (52.5) and also ranks first in adjusted defensive efficiency (84.4) per Kenpom.com.

On the ACC coaches teleconference on Monday, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim heaped praise on Virginia head coach Tony Bennett and his pack-line defense.

“He’s clearly the best defensive coach in the country the last few years,” Boeheim said. “They’re a very difficult team to play against, very difficult to get good shots against.”

So far this season, only three teams have reached the 60-point mark against the Cavaliers. In its most recent contest, UVA held a North Carolina team that had been averaging 84.9 points per game to just 49.

Virginia has ramped up its defense in conference play as well. In two of its three ACC games, UVA has racked up six blocks.

“It gives them another dimension,” Boeheim said about the Cavaliers’ shot blocking. “Before you sometimes could get in and get a shot. Now if you get in they’ve got guys that can block shots. An already very, very good defense gets better when you have that added element to it.

“I don’t think they needed that,” Boeheim said jokingly. “I wish they didn’t have that.”

Published on January 8, 2018 at 1:12 pm

Contact Tomer: tdlanger@syr.edu | @tomer_langer