Virginia, Syracuse look to build consistency going into ACC tourney

While Virginia and host Syracuse have failed to reach expectations this season, both are looking to build momentum for the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament when they close out the regular season on Saturday.

Virginia (15-15, 8-11 ACC) was picked to finish fifth in the league, but the Cavaliers are tied for ninth. The Orange (12-18, 6-13), meanwhile, are tied for 14th in the conference standings after losing five of their last six games.

To make a run in the league's postseason event, which begins next week in Charlotte, N.C., Virginia will need to display more consistency than it has throughout the season. The up-and-down Cavaliers pulled out a 60-57 home win over Florida State on Tuesday despite shooting 39.6 percent from field and committing 14 turnovers.

"The group has shown grit, and that's the one thing they did -- they didn't fracture down the stretch," Virginia interim coach Ron Sanchez said. "They could have. ... This is what growth looks like."

Syracuse has blown double-digit leads in its last three losses -- against Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech and, most recently, against SMU on Tuesday. The Orange led the Mustangs by 12 midway through the second half before going cold down the stretch. They did not make a field goal in the final five minutes.

"This has been a story the last couple games, being up at the half and not closing out the right way," Syracuse guard Jaquan Carlos said. "We just have to do a better job with that."

Saturday's game features two talented guards who are looking to break out of shooting slumps.

Syracuse's J.J. Starling averages 18 points per game but has shot above 40 percent only once in his previous six games. He was 3-of-17 from the field in the loss to SMU.

Virginia's Isaac McKneely leads his team in scoring (14.2) but is just 8-of-24 from the field over the last two games. He struggled to the tune of 3-of-11 from the floor against Florida State.

--Field Level Media