With 12 games left on the calendar, the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team still technically has time. But let’s be honest-barring a dramatic and unlikely turnaround, the writing’s already on the wall.
After back-to-back losses to Boston College and Virginia Tech, Syracuse’s path to the NCAA Tournament has gone from narrow to nearly nonexistent. And with that, the future of head coach Adrian Autry is looking more uncertain by the day.
There’s no sugarcoating it: this was supposed to be the season where things started to click. Instead, it’s shaping up to be another frustrating chapter in a program that’s been stuck in neutral for too long.
The Orange went just 3-3 during the softest stretch of their ACC schedule-games they needed to win to stay relevant in the postseason conversation. Now, with a tougher slate ahead, expecting them to suddenly start taking down top-25 teams feels more like wishful thinking than a realistic scenario.
A Roster Built to Win-But Falling Short
What makes this season so disappointing isn’t just the losses-it’s the missed opportunity. Syracuse has one of its most talented rosters in recent memory.
Donnie Freeman is a future first-rounder, maybe even a lottery pick. J.J.
Starling came into the year with a reputation as a proven scorer in ACC play. Naithan George is a steady hand at point guard, a top-tier distributor with 5.5 assists per game.
That trio alone gives you a foundation most programs would love to build around.
But it doesn’t stop there. William Kyle and Tyler Betsey have been savvy additions from the transfer portal, bringing size, shooting, and grit.
Sadiq White and Kiyan Anthony headline a recruiting class that injected real excitement into the fanbase. And Nate Kingz has quietly carved out a role as a dependable, do-it-all contributor who’s improving by the week.
In total, seven players are averaging at least eight points per game. There’s depth, there’s balance, and there’s experience.
This team has the pieces to compete in the ACC and make a push for March. But instead, it’s struggling to finish games against the bottom half of the conference.
The Autry Dilemma
Adrian Autry’s tenure started with cautious optimism. A 34-31 record over his first two seasons wasn’t spectacular, but it wasn’t disastrous either.
He inherited a program in transition and was tasked with navigating the new world of college basketball-where NIL deals and the transfer portal have completely changed the game. He deserved a third year.
That was the right call.
But the third year was supposed to be the step forward. Instead, it’s been a step back.
Losses to Hofstra and Boston College have tanked Syracuse’s resume. The lone bright spot-a home win over Tennessee-has lost its shine as the Vols have slipped in the SEC standings.
Without a late-season surge or a miracle ACC Tournament run, Syracuse won’t be dancing in March. And if that’s the case, it’s hard to imagine Autry returning for a fourth season.
A Program on the Brink of a Reset
If Autry is let go-as many now expect-it won’t just be a coaching change. It could be a full-scale reset.
Starling, Kyle, and possibly Kingz are all out of eligibility. Freeman is NBA-bound.
And with a new coach likely coming in, the transfer portal could open the floodgates. George, Betsey, White, and Anthony-four players who represent the program’s future-could all decide to move on.
If that happens, Syracuse could be looking at a roster with almost no returning experience. That’s not just roster turnover-that’s a rebuild.
It would be the third straight offseason of significant change, but this one would feel different. This one would feel like starting from scratch.
And yet, that doesn’t mean the program should stick with the status quo. Even with the risk of a reset, the current trajectory isn’t sustainable.
A core of George, Betsey, White, and Anthony would be promising, sure-but it’s not enough to justify delaying the inevitable. Syracuse needs a new direction.
A new voice. A new identity.
Looking Ahead
The potential departure of Autry will mark the end of a brief but turbulent era. And while it may spark a painful rebuild, it also presents an opportunity. A chance to modernize, to reestablish Syracuse as a contender in the ACC, and to build a program that can thrive in today’s ever-changing college basketball landscape.
It won’t be easy. There will be growing pains. But for a fanbase that’s grown tired of mediocrity, change-even if it means starting from zero-might be the only path forward.