Louisville, Syracuse desperate to halt late-season slides

Louisville and Syracuse are searching for answers with the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament right around the corner.

The Cardinals host the Orange on Tuesday with both teams looking to break out of a multi-game funk.

Louisville (20-9, 9-7 ACC) dropped out of the AP Top 25 after losing twice last week -- a 77-74 defeat at then-No. 18 North Carolina, followed by an 80-75 setback to Clemson. Against the Tigers, the Cardinals were doomed by 10-for-36 3-point shooting and a defense that failed to get key stops down the stretch.

"We're struggling. We're struggling, and trying to figure it out," said Louisville coach Pat Kelsey, whose team was led by Adrian Wooley (17 points) and Ryan Conwell (15). "I told our guys now is not the time ... to rehash a bunch of little things that add up to big things. We can't allow it to happen, especially when you go on the road in a tough venue, against a really tough team, and think you're going to win those games."

The Cardinals will definitely be glad to return home, where they are 14-2 this season. In fact, a home game against the Orange (15-14, 6-10) might be just what the doctor ordered.

Syracuse has dropped three straight games, most recently an 88-83 loss at Wake Forest.

Donnie Freeman scored a career-high 28 points in that game, while Nate Kingz added 20 points. The two combined to hit nine 3-pointers -- and the Orange shot 50% from beyond the arc on their 26 attempts -- but they continued to have issues on the defensive end.

"It's been a struggle all year for us," Syracuse coach Adrian Autry said. "In college, you've got to be tough. You've got to do tough things. You got to make tough plays. You've got to have resistance. You've got to be able to defend. And, you know, we just don't do that."

Louisville won last season's matchup with Syracuse 85-61 after dropping six of the previous seven meetings.

--Field Level Media