I’m not feeling super optimistic that sophomore guard Chance Westry is going to play in official games for Syracuse basketball any time soon, which is a bummer.
The 6-foot-6, 190-pound Westry, a former four-star, top-40 national prospect in the 2022 class who spent his freshman season at Auburn and then transferred to the Orange, has yet to play for the ‘Cuse so far in the 2023-24 season.
In late October, prior to the 2023-24 season getting underway, Syracuse basketball said on social media, “Chance Westry suffered a lower body injury in practice on Thursday that will require a procedure. He will be out indefinitely.”
In early December, head coach Adrian Autry said he was “hopeful” to have Westry back “sometime in January.”
However, after the ‘Cuse (10-3, 1-1 in the ACC) defeated long-time rival Pittsburgh by eight points last Saturday on the Hill to notch the team’s first Atlantic Coast Conference win of 2023-24, Autry discussed Westry a bit further, and the prognosis didn’t seem all that great.
Syracuse basketball head coach Adrian Autry discussed guard Chance Westry.
Autry says there’s “nothing definitive” regarding a timeline for when Westry could return.
Autry, who adds that he wants to “err on the side of caution,” says he’s “not even hopeful” regarding if and when Westry might play for the Orange in 2023-24, although the head coach did say he thinks Westry starting to practice with the team might be “coming soon.”
When asked, Coach Autry says there is no timeline for Chance Westry's return. In fact, he said "I'm not even hopeful."
— Cuse Sports Talk (@CuseSportsTalk_) December 30, 2023
Westry hasn't practiced yet but Autry says he thinks that is coming soon. Says they are going to proceed with caution and won't rush anything.
Something else to pass along, per a post on X from Cuse Sports Talk. Redshirt sophomore guard Kyle Cuffe Jr., after the Orange’s victory versus the Panthers, “was wearing a boot in the locker room. Haven’t noticed that before,” according to Cuse Sports Talk.
Another note from after the game - Kyle Cuffe Jr. was wearing a boot in the locker room. Haven't noticed that before.
— Cuse Sports Talk (@CuseSportsTalk_) December 30, 2023
Cuffe has dealt with injuries in the past. The same goes for Westry and several other players on the ‘Cuse 2023-24 roster.
It’s pivotal that the Orange has pretty significant depth at all position groups. What’s more, reserves Quadir Copeland, a sophomore guard, Benny Williams, a junior forward, and Maliq Brown, a sophomore big man, were all fabulous in defeating Pittsburgh.
With Westry out for what it appears to be a while longer, and Cuffe’s situation is something to monitor, it’s paramount that Syracuse basketball is receiving quality minutes and strong production from other guys off the bench, especially when some of the starters might be struggling from game to game.
In the near term, the Orange will head to top-20 Duke on Tuesday night, followed by a home date with Boston College and then another road battle with top-10 North Carolina all in the span of 12 days.