Syracuse basketball's recent struggles took center stage on ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption," where Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon dissected the Orange's tough 101-64 loss to No. 3 Duke. This defeat marks the 11th consecutive loss to Duke and stands as Syracuse's largest setback since joining the ACC in 2013-14, highlighting the program's decline over the past decade.
Kornheiser didn't hold back, stating, "That game was brutal. That was not competitive."
As Syracuse gears up to face No. 16 North Carolina at the JMA Wireless Dome, they sit at 15-12 overall and 6-8 in ACC play.
Missing the NCAA Tournament for a fifth straight season seems likely, a surprising turn for such a storied program.
The discussion turned critical as Kornheiser noted, "There’s something really wrong at Syracuse. They’ve got to go to a reset. ...
It’s just not working." Adrian Autry, now in his third year as head coach, has a 49-43 record, which falls short of expectations for a program with Syracuse's history.
During the Duke game, Syracuse legend Carmelo Anthony was in attendance, watching his son, freshman Kiyan Anthony, play. Kornheiser expressed sympathy for Melo, saying, "I felt bad for him." Wilbon added context by recalling past competitive matchups between Syracuse and Duke, including a tight 66-60 game in 2014 where Jim Boeheim was ejected.
As Syracuse grapples with these challenges, the call for a reset grows louder, leaving fans eager to see how the program will respond.