Syracuse basketball, as the calendar year turns to 2025 on Wednesday, still is in search of its first win in the current campaign over an opponent from a power conference.
The Orange, hosting Wake Forest in an Atlantic Coast Conference battle on Tuesday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome, found itself down by 16 points, at 19-3, roughly five minutes into this contest.
Yet the 'Cuse didn't throw in the towel, storming back to close its deficit to 36-34 at the break. In the second half, the Orange managed to grab the lead, even going ahead 47-41 with about 14 minutes remaining in the second half.
However, the Demon Deacons hit some timely 3-pointers down the stretch. Frankly, the disparity from beyond the arc proved one of the big reasons why Wake Forest (10-4, 2-1 in the ACC) defeated Syracuse basketball on the Hill, 81-71, a disappointing result for a 'Cuse squad that to date is having a rough 2024-25 season.
With this bummer outcome, the 'Cuse suffers a bad quadrant-three setback, and Syracuse basketball is now 11-5 in its all-time series with Wake Forest. Up next, the Orange (6-7, 0-2 in the ACC) will travel to Florida State this Saturday, Jan. 4, with the tip-off scheduled for 6 pm and television coverage on the ACC Network.
Syracuse basketball has yet to find its identity this season.
Undeniably, the 'Cuse being without its leading scorer, junior guard J.J. Starling, since early December is a tough thing to overcome. Yet even when Starling does come back - and I hope it's soon - I don't have a ton of confidence that this Syracuse basketball roster is going to win a decent number of affairs throughout the rest of this term.
Those who know me well know that I love my alma mater and am usually quite positive on Orange hoops and all 'Cuse sports teams. But if we're being honest with ourselves here, this Syracuse basketball group simply isn't good.
Granted, Starling was averaging nearly 20 points per contest and has missed the last seven games. Additionally, yes, the Orange has fallen in several closely fought meetings.
However, 13 contests into 2024-25, and the 'Cuse still hasn't beaten an opponent from a power conference. That, to me, is unacceptable.
Orange fans are frustrated, and they should be. I am. Some fans want second-year head coach Adrian Autry fired. I'm not in that camp.
But, at the same time, this Syracuse basketball team is not trending in a positive direction, especially after the 'Cuse went 20-12 a stanza ago, winning 20 regular-season games for the first instance in a decade.
The Orange's 3-point shooting woes are clear. Versus the Demon Deacons, Wake Forest was plus-12 points from the perimeter, with Syracuse basketball making just 23 percent from deep, as compared to 47 percent for its foe.
The 'Cuse did hold edges of 43-33 on the boards, 40-13 in bench points, 16-7 in fast-break points and 15-12 in second-chance points. On the flip side, Wake Forest led 13-8 in assists, 18-11 in turnovers forced, 5-3 in blocks, 11-5 in steals, 14-7 in points off turnovers and 30-28 in paint points.
With Syracuse basketball 2025 four-star commit Kiyan Anthony in attendance, three Orange players led the team's charge on Saturday afternoon. Senior point guard Jaquan Carlos tallied 16 points, four rebounds and four assists.
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— InsideTheLoudHouse (@LoudHouseFS) December 31, 2024
Senior guard Lucas Taylor collected 16 points and five rebounds. He made a trio of 3-pointers. Redshirt junior guard Kyle Cuffe Jr. didn't shoot well from the field, but he was 9-of-11 from the free-throw line and finished with 14 points, six rebounds and two assists.
Autry inserted both Taylor and Cuffe into the starting line-up at the beginning of the second half, and a lot of fans, myself included, were happy to see that. Taylor and Cuffe each produced a career-high in points scored during their Syracuse basketball tenures so far.