Syracuse Basketball: Analyst offers blunt assessment of Adrian Autry in year three

Syracuse basketball head coach Adrian Autry is under the microscope in year three at the helm of the program, analyst Rocco Miller says in a piece for Basket Under Review, a relatively new college basketball outlet that I highly recommend Orange fans check out.

Miller took a look at different head coaches who are entering their third season with their respective teams, and Miller was relatively blunt in his assessment of Autry: the 'Cuse boss needs to win games, and win a sizable amount of them to turn this storied program around.

Following the Orange's 14-19 record in the 2024-25 campaign, some fans wanted Autry gone. I was not in that camp, and SU athletics director John Wildhack supported Autry's return, while also saying that the 'Cuse needs to return to the NCAA Tournament, an annual event that it has missed for four straight seasons.

Miller writes: "It is crazy to believe that Syracuse has not been there since 2021. Four straight misses at Syracuse just did not exist ever before in my lifetime, and likely yours too."

I agree, Rocco. I agree. Sigh.

Syracuse basketball retaining its top two players was massive.

Miller, and others, have noted that the Orange had been struggling to stay competitive as it pertains to its name, image and likeness ("NIL") budget, although things in that regard appear to have improved, Wildhack has said.

For one, the 'Cuse brought back its top two players from a season ago. "JJ Starling and Donnie Freeman's return to the roster after combining to average nearly 31 points combined could not have been cheap," Miller says, and he's right.

On paper, the Orange's 2025-26 roster has appeal. In addition to Starling and Freeman, the 'Cuse has a five-member 2025 prep class that's in the top 15 nationally, and Syracuse basketball's six-member transfer cycle contains multiple four-star prospects.

That provides me with cautious optimism that the Orange can potentially have a top-six finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference and vie for hearing its name called on Selection Sunday. Syracuse basketball has a challenging non-conference docket, including battles with national runner-up Houston and Kansas in Las Vegas.

Miller understandably writes that there is excitement surrounding the 'Cuse incoming freshmen, namely four-stars Kiyan Anthony, Sadiq White Jr. and Luke Fennell. "This three-pack promises to be special, the question is how soon?" Miller says.

It's difficult to gauge how quickly and effectively Syracuse basketball's roster can gel ahead of 2025-26, with 11 of 13 players new to the program. Miller sums it up this way: "You can reasonably still question the depth of this roster, but raw talent is here. Autry needs them to perform urgently."

That last sentence hit the nail on the proverbial head. Autry and his staff need to coach with a sense of urgency, and their players need to do the same.