Syracuse Falls to Virginia, Kiyan Anthony Benched for First Time This Season
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Syracuse dropped a tough one on the road Saturday, falling 72-59 to a physical and experienced Virginia squad at John Paul Jones Arena. But perhaps the most surprising development wasn’t just the final score - it was who didn’t take the court.
For the first time all season, freshman guard Kiyan Anthony didn’t log a single minute of action. The 6-foot-5 wing had been a regular part of the Orange rotation through the first 23 games, averaging 19.3 minutes and 8.9 points per contest. But against the Cavaliers, Anthony watched the entire game from the bench.
There was no indication of injury - Anthony went through pregame warmups as usual and wasn’t listed on the ACC’s availability report. After the game, head coach Adrian Autry made it clear: this was purely a coaching decision.
“No injury concerns,” Autry said. “It was just my decision.
This is a physical team, an experienced team. It was just my decision.
No injuries or anything like that.”
Anthony’s absence comes as the freshman has been navigating some growing pains in his first collegiate season. While he's shown flashes of scoring ability, his efficiency has lagged behind.
According to KenPom.com, Anthony holds the lowest offensive efficiency among Syracuse’s regular rotation players. He’s shooting 41% from the field overall, but just 23% from beyond the arc, going 14-for-60 on the season.
Still, Anthony had been a steady presence in the lineup, and his benching raises questions about how the Orange coaching staff plans to manage minutes down the stretch.
Autry, for his part, wasn’t interested in fueling speculation.
“It’s no narratives about any of this stuff,” he said. “I just made the decision. It was my decision that I made today.”
With the loss, Syracuse falls to 13-11 overall and 4-7 in ACC play. The Orange will look to regroup quickly - they’re back in action Tuesday night at home against California.
Whether Anthony returns to the rotation remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain: Syracuse needs to find a spark, and fast, if they want to stay competitive in the second half of conference play.