Syracuse’s first exhibition win of the preseason came with an eye-catching subplot: Kiyan Anthony barely touched the floor.
The Orange beat Siena 81-76 on Sunday afternoon at MVP Arena in Albany, N.Y., but Anthony was on the court for just eight minutes. That naturally has fans wondering whether the sophomore guard’s role is about to shrink. Based on how Syracuse is using these exhibition games, though, that does not appear to be the case.
Anthony was a regular piece of former head coach Adrian Autry’s rotation last season, appearing in 29 games and averaging 8 points per game in his first year. This offseason brought a new look to the backcourt, with Syracuse adding Garwey Dual, Ryan Moesch and Aiden Tobiason. Tobiason sat out Sunday with a hamstring injury, Dual played 12 minutes, and Moesch - along with Mark Marano, another newcomer - saw extended run.
That’s the key here: these preseason games are giving Syracuse a chance to sort through the new faces. Anthony and Sadiq White Jr. remain the most experienced returners on the roster, and both have been viewed as core pieces after choosing to stay in Central New York through the coaching change. McNamara has known Anthony since before he signed with Syracuse, when McNamara was an assistant on the staff that recruited him, so this doesn’t read like a mystery about Anthony’s standing.
It looks more like evaluation time. McNamara is using the exhibition schedule to get a closer look at players who have not yet proven themselves at the Power Four level, including Moesch and Marano, who have not played a minute of college basketball.
There’s also a bigger point to keep in mind: exhibition minutes can be deceptive. NFL players who matter rarely see heavy preseason workloads, and the same general idea applies in the NBA exhibition season. That makes it hard to treat Sunday’s rotation as a clean preview of what Syracuse will look like once the games count for real.
Anthony gets one more preseason chance to get on the floor when Syracuse heads to Buffalo to face Niagara on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m. ET at Keybank Center.
In Other News...
Syracuse Fans Have Two Big Reasons To Watch This Exhibition
Syracuses exhibition against Siena at MVP Arena offers an early look at how Gerry McNamaras team is taking shape, and it comes with a few added layers for Orange fans. Freshman Mark Morano is set to make his Syracuse debut, giving the program its first public glimpse of a newcomer who could factor into the rotation as the season gets underway.
The matchup also brings McNamara against his former school, with Siena now coached by Nevada Smith. Syracuse, meanwhile, will be without Aiden Tobiason because of injury, which slightly alters the mix for a game that is more about evaluation than the final score, but still carries enough storylines to make it worth following closely. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Heads Into UNC Week With A Quarterback Problem Again
Syracuse is heading into its North Carolina prep with the quarterback picture once again up in the air, a frustrating familiar spot for a team trying to steady itself late in the season. Fran Brown gave the latest health update on Malachi Nelson, Steve Angeli and Amari Odom, and the uncertainty at the most important position leaves the Orange trying to piece together a plan while the weeks work begins.
Brown also said wide receiver Elijah Moore is being moved to safety, another sign that Syracuse is searching for answers wherever it can find them. There was at least one encouraging note on the injury front, with linebacker Antoine Deslauriers expected to practice after missing the previous game, but the bigger question still hangs over the offense as the Orange get ready for a trip into ACC play without a confirmed starter under center. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Keeps Running Into The Same Offensive Problem
Umari Hatcher gave Syracuse plenty to build on in the loss to Louisville, piling up 13 catches for 224 yards and a touchdown. But even with that kind of outing from a receiver who stretched the field and kept the offense moving, the Orange still came up short in a 34-26 defeat and are left trying to solve a problem that has lingered through the season.
The issue has shown up in the same places too often: finishing drives and sustaining production once games wear on. Syracuse has turned 32 red-zone trips into 17 touchdowns, and the offense has also faded in second halves, with quarterbacks throwing nine interceptions after halftime. Until those lapses get cleaned up, the Orange will keep leaving points on the field and leaving open the same questions about what this offense can be when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]