Just as the Orange's leading scorer, junior guard J.J. Starling, returned to the line-up in recent days, Syracuse basketball found itself without one of its other top players on Tuesday night at the JMA Wireless Dome as the 'Cuse battled Georgia Tech.
The Orange, though mired in a slump lately, clamped down on the defensive end, and Syracuse basketball secured its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory of the 2024-25 season in beating the Yellow Jackets, 62-55.
Given the Orange's recent struggles, the news that freshman power forward Donnie Freeman would be sidelined versus Georgia Tech led some fans, understandably, to assume that the 'Cuse would likely fall at home to the Yellow Jackets. As positive as I usually am, I was in that camp.
.@DAMNTWIN from @LoudHouseFS joined @BoyGreen25 on @TheScore1260:
— The Manchild Show with Boy Green (@Manchild_Show) January 8, 2025
- Recap Syracuse's first ACC win of the season vs. Georgia Tech
- The return of JJ Starling & his impact on the team
- Latest on Donnie Freeman's injury#Orange https://t.co/hrjBb1cZbK
However, Starling - who had missed seven games before returning to the Orange line-up last Saturday night in a road setback at Florida State - was awesome against Georgia Tech, notching a team-high 21 points.
And with Freeman unavailable on Tuesday evening, other Syracuse basketball forwards and centers stepped up, including junior Chris Bell, graduate student Eddie Lampkin Jr. and senior Jyare Davis.
Facing tough circumstances, in an ACC clash that the Orange (7-8, 1-3 in the ACC) desperately needed to have, the 'Cuse took care of business versus the Yellow Jackets. Yet if Syracuse basketball truly wants to make any sort of realistic move toward entering the conversation for post-season play (beyond the ACC Tournament), Freeman coming back sooner rather than later is vital.
Syracuse basketball head coach Adrian Autry briefly touched on Donnie Freeman.
After the Orange stung the Yellow Jackets, in his post-game press conference, head coach Adrian Autry didn't provide a specific timetable for Freeman's potential return to the court. Autry said Freeman has a lower leg injury, "and I think it’s day-to-day," the team's second-year boss added.
Freeman, who hails from Washington, D.C., and was ranked as high as No. 6 nationally in the 2024 class as a consensus five-star prospect, has gotten off to a strong start at the college level.
Sure, he needs to improve on defense, but so does everyone on the Syracuse basketball 2024-25 roster. Yet Freeman, to me, has been playing like one of the top freshmen in the ACC so far this term.
He leads the Orange at 7.9 rebounds per game, to go along with 13.4 points and 1.4 assists, while hitting 50.4 percent from the field, 79.6 percent from the free-throw line and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Freeman is a capable 3-point threat, which the 'Cuse needs, and he's great in the mid-range and closer to the rim. His athleticism is terrific, and a big reason why Syracuse basketball has proven solid on the glass for much of 2024-25 is due to Freeman's rebounding prowess.
I will say that I was pleasantly surprised to see the Orange go plus-nine on the boards against Georgia Tech, especially since Freeman was out and the two squads entered their ACC collision basically tied in rebounds per affair.
On Tuesday, Autry rolled with a starting line-up of Starling, freshman shooting guard Elijah Moore, senior wing Lucas Taylor, Davis and Lampkin. After a slow start, Lampkin came on strong in the second half, while Davis can be a dependable guy in the paint on both ends of the floor.
If Freeman is out for any period of time beyond the Georgia Tech encounter, look for Davis to play extended minutes, and another guy who will likely get more run is fan favorite Petar Majstorovic, a freshman forward who doesn't score a lot but provides rebounding, energy and all-out hustle.
Over the next two weeks, the 'Cuse has home dates with Louisville and Notre Dame, while traveling to Boston College (this Saturday) and Clemson. Syracuse basketball needs to grab some victories to build off its win over Georgia Tech, and having Freeman back as soon as possible could help in that regard.
I'll certainly share any updates that Autry and his program may provide in the coming days regarding Freeman's status for the Orange's ACC contest at the Eagles this weekend.