Earlier this week, Syracuse basketball head coach Adrian Autry said that Saturday would prove emotional for him.
That's because the 2024-25 regular season comes to a close on Saturday evening, as the Orange hosts Virginia at the JMA Wireless Dome, on senior night, before heading to the ACC Tournament in Charlotte, N.C., next week.
Autry, in an interview with ESPN Radio Syracuse this week, acknowledged that this season has weighed on him. He knows that 2024-25 has been a disappointment to him, his staff, his players and the fan base.
That being said, Autry said on ESPN Radio Syracuse, and he's said this in other interviews throughout the current campaign, that he's proud of how his players have continued to fight this term, despite the Orange's sub-par record in 2024-25.
Saturday marks senior night for Syracuse basketball when the team faces Virginia on the Hill.
I'd like to echo the head coach's comments. Yes, the 'Cuse is facing its worst season dating back to the late 1960s. Barring a miracle in Charlotte, Syracuse basketball will miss the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight occasion, something that Autry and SU athletics director John Wildhack agree is unacceptable for one of the winningest programs in college basketball history.
However, the Orange's 2024-25 roster has fought hard. It has battled. Sure, the defense is poor, the turnovers are way too frequent, and the 3-point shooting is inconsistent. The 'Cuse hasn't shown an ability to close out games, even when it has had double-digit leads on its opponents.
Yet these Orange players don't quit. They don't throw in the towel. And I respect them for that, despite how frustrated I'm sure they must be, and all the outside "noise" they likely hear from the fan base.
Autry readily admits that his squad's expectations for 2024-25 didn't come to fruition, although I figured this season may prove challenging. A ton of players from a stanza ago transferred out, while the 'Cuse brought in four transfers of its own, along with three incoming freshmen. That's a lot of new faces.
And the injuries. J.J. Starling missed some time. Five-star Donnie Freeman didn't make it through half of the season. Chance Westry appeared in three games and logged a combined 11 minutes. Elijah Moore hasn't suited up since mid-February.
In any event, those Syracuse basketball players who will have exhausted their eligibility after 2024-25 include Jaquan Carlos, Eddie Lampkin Jr., Lucas Taylor, Jyare Davis and Naheem McLeod. Redshirt junior Kyle Cuffe Jr. is graduating and will walk on senior night, although he has college eligibility left after this term.
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all these guys who are walking on senior night. They've worked hard and tried their best, even if 2024-25 hasn't been good for the program as it pertains to wins and losses.
Individually speaking, all six players have had their bright spots in the current campaign, regardless of the Orange's record.