CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — For the second straight game, Jerami Grant didn’t play any second-half minutes due to a sore back.

He played 13 minutes in the first frame, but didn’t warm up with the Orange to start the second half.

SU head coach Jim Boeheim said “there’s nothing wrong” with Grant, just that he simply wasn’t healthy enough to play.

No. 4 Syracuse (26-3, 13-3 Atlantic Coast) missed Grant’s presence in the second half. The Orange was outscored by 20 the rest of the way, and Virginia (25-5, 16-1) pulled away for a 75-56 win to claim the ACC regular-season title.

Boeheim said Grant practiced once this week and looked good, but he still didn’t feel comfortable playing him in the second half.

“He just has soreness and he can’t go,” Boeheim said. “That’s the way his status is.”

Virginia exploited Syracuse inside all game, outrebounding the Orange 39 to 29. SU also missed Grant on the perimeter defensively. With him on the bench, the length he usually provides to fluster shooters was no longer a factor.

In his absence, Baye Moussa Keita and Rakeem Christmas got into foul trouble. Virginia big men Mike Tobey and Akil Mitchell pummeled SU inside. Easy putbacks hurt the Orange in the second half, as the zone was exposed.

As Virginia pulled away, all Grant could do was watch. He wasn’t available for comment in the locker room following the game.

“He’s been one of our best players all year,” Boeheim said. “Obviously you don’t want to lose a guy like that. We’re not the same team, but it’s just sometimes those things happen.

 

“You have to try to adjust as best you can.”

 

Syracuse tried to adjust, but it was unable to do so. Against Maryland, the Terrapins went on a run with Grant sidelined. They climbed back into the game and nearly upset the Orange.

On Saturday at John Paul Jones Arena, the same scenario unfolded. This time, though, Virginia completed what only two other teams have done this year. And the Cavaliers did so decisively.

“We know we need him out there for the inside presence because he’s a lanky guy and he’s really athletic,” Keita said. “He’s hurt right now, so we’re just going to deal with it.”

Even in the first half, Grant wasn’t himself. He stayed in the locker room for Syracuse’s first shoot around before tipoff, but warmed up right before the game and started. He appeared fine beforehand, but once the game started he looked out of whack.

Grant airballed a baseline jumper and heard it from the Cavalier fans. Later in the half, he spun through the lane and missed a layup badly.

He looked stiff and didn’t have the mobility that typically defines and showcases his athleticism.

Going forward, Keita believes the key for Syracuse is to be at full health entering the NCAA Tournament. Whether that means getting Grant back next game or not for a couple games remains to be seen. Keita just wants him to be healthy.

“I think his back is fine,” Keita said. “We’re going to tell him, ‘Don’t force it. Just play when you feel comfortable and 100 percent.’ I’d rather have him 100 percent than have him 75 percent now.”

There’s a hole to be filled, but SU guard Tyler Ennis is confident Michael Gbinije and Tyler Roberson will step up to the challenge.

“You can’t really replace Jerami,” Ennis said, “but our other guys came in.”

Published on March 1, 2014 at 11:50 pm

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass