The days of Carmelo Anthony carrying Syracuse to a national title feel like a lifetime ago. These days, the Orange are struggling just to stay relevant in the ACC, and the frustration is starting to boil over - even from the program’s most iconic alum.
Syracuse hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2021, and three seasons into Adrian Autry’s tenure, the Orange aren’t trending toward breaking that streak anytime soon. Monday night in Chapel Hill was just the latest gut punch: a game that started with a 32-point deficit midway through the second half, only to end in an 87-77 loss to No.
14 North Carolina. A late surge made the score look respectable, but the damage was already done.
Among those watching closely was Carmelo Anthony, whose son Kiyan is now a freshman on the team. Kiyan logged 16 minutes in the loss, but it was his father’s reaction that turned heads.
Melo responded to a clip of the game on social media with a simple, sharp “SMFH” - and that was enough to send Orange fans into a frenzy. For a fanbase already on edge, that post felt like a tipping point.
It’s not just the loss - it’s the pattern. Syracuse is 0-for-March under Autry, and the trajectory hasn’t improved.
The comeback attempt against UNC showed some fight, but it also highlighted how far the Orange have fallen behind the ACC’s elite. Down 32 with just over 10 minutes to play, Syracuse clawed back to within seven with 1:22 left - but moral victories don’t move the needle when the program is this far off the map.
Autry was always seen as the natural successor to Jim Boeheim. A longtime assistant and former player, he was handed the reins without much of a search.
But three years in, the results aren’t there, and the pressure is mounting. Monday’s loss didn’t just sting - it may have underscored the need for a reset.
Ironically, it might be UNC - a fellow blue blood navigating its own post-legend transition - that’s helping force the issue. The Tar Heels came out firing, putting the game out of reach early and asserting themselves as one of the ACC’s top dogs alongside Duke. And while Syracuse was never quite in that tier, the contrast in coaching transitions is hard to ignore.
Hubert Davis hasn’t had a flawless run in Chapel Hill, but compared to what’s happening in Syracuse, it looks like smooth sailing. UNC has remained competitive, recruited well, and - most importantly - shown signs of growth. For Syracuse, the same can’t be said.
The Orange haven’t looked the same since leaving the Big East, and while Boeheim managed one last Final Four run in 2016, those moments have become more of a memory than a standard. Now, with Kiyan Anthony on the roster and his father watching closely, the program finds itself at a crossroads.
The question isn’t just about Autry’s future - it’s about the identity of Syracuse basketball moving forward. The fanbase is restless.
The wins aren’t coming. And when Carmelo Anthony - the face of the program’s proudest moment - starts airing his frustration publicly, it’s hard to ignore the message: something’s got to change.