Syracuse (14-19, 7-13) suffered a crushing 73-53 loss to SMU (23-9, 13-7) in the second round of the ACC tournament. Coming into the game as the 14th seed, the Orange hoped to continue their surprising run and pull off another upset. They had just managed a hard-fought 66-62 win over Florida State the previous day, and the team was determined to carry that momentum into their next game. But as has been the case for much of the season, things quickly unraveled for Syracuse in the second half.
Photo Cred: ESPN
While any loss in a tournament setting is frustrating, this particular defeat was hardly a shock, considering the way the season had unfolded for SU. A season marred by inconsistency, missed opportunities, and disappointing performances ended in a fittingly lackluster manner. This year’s collapse marked one of the worst seasons in Syracuse basketball history, and the team faces serious challenges that must be addressed in order to rebuild and restore the program to its former glory. Without significant changes, the road to success for Syracuse remains a long and uncertain one.
Despite the team’s struggles, it has been confirmed that head coach Adrian Autry will return for another season at the helm. However, it’s fair to say that Autry is under intense scrutiny and likely on the hot seat heading into next year. This season has highlighted several of his shortcomings as a coach, leaving many to question whether he is the right person to lead the program back to prominence. This has led to significant inconsistency on the court, as players have struggled to find their rhythm and contribute in meaningful ways.
Offensively, Syracuse has been painfully one-dimensional. Too often, the team has relied on isolation plays or Lampkin post-ups with little variation or creativity. The offense has become predictable, and opposing defenses have learned to exploit this lack of creativity. There has been little offensive flow, and players have appeared out of sync, with no real system in place to create easy scoring opportunities. On the defensive end, things have been equally problematic. Syracuse has struggled mightily, ranking second-to-last in the ACC in points allowed.
Photo Cred: Grennville Online
Perhaps the most concerning aspect of this season has been Autry’s failure to get the team to come together as a cohesive unit. With a roster full of talent, the inability to connect and play as a team has been frustrating for fans and players alike. There have been flashes of potential, but they have been too few and far between to make any lasting impact. For Syracuse to have any chance of rebounding and returning to relevance next season, Adrian Autry will need to step up in a significant way.
Defensively, Autry will need to find a way to improve the team’s overall defense, both in terms of discipline and strategy. The Orange can’t continue to give up points at the rate they have been and expect to compete in the ACC. The future of Syracuse basketball hinges on these improvements. Autry faces a pivotal year ahead, and the pressure will be squarely on his shoulders to deliver results. The next season will be crucial for both Autry’s tenure and the future of the program as a whole.
