Syracuse Basketball: Fans are frustrated, but meanness on social media doesn't help things

Following the Orange's four-point loss to long-time rival Georgetown on Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse basketball resides at 5-5 overall to date in the early stages of the 2024-25 season.

Understandably, the 'Cuse fan base is frustrated. I'm frustrated. You're frustrated. Syracuse basketball coaches and players are frustrated.

Adrian Autry, a former star player for the Orange and a long-time assistant under the Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim, is in his second term as the team's head coach.

Autry guided Syracuse basketball to a 20-12 record in 2023-24, the first occasion that the 'Cuse had captured 20 regular-season victories in a decade. But the Orange also missed the annual NCAA Tournament for the third straight campaign, and it's fair to say that unless Syracuse basketball quickly turns things around, it's likely to be on the outside looking in for the 2025 Big Dance.

For a program that resides in the top 10 among college basketball programs as it relates to all-time wins, it's a frustrating time for Syracuse basketball. So far in 2024-25, the Orange has lost all five of its games against power-conference foes, with the 'Cuse owning several close victories against Le Moyne, Colgate, Youngstown State, Cornell and Albany.

It's disappointing that some Syracuse basketball fans resort to personal attacks on social media.

Okay, here's the thing. Social media has changed everything when it comes to people giving their opinions on every topic imaginable, including the Orange. I always respect my fellow fans' opinions and takes, even when I don't agree with them.

But why is the meanness from some fans needed? How does it help? I get being frustrated, and I get wanting to vent.

You want Autry gone? Fine. That's your right. You want SU Athletics to hire a new head coach outside of the Boeheim "family tree"? Fine. That's your right.

You want to say that the 'Cuse has proven a disappointing team since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013-14, save for some nice March Madness runs in 2016, 2018 and 2021? Fine. That's your right. And a fairly accurate statement.

You want to say certain guys should play more, certain guys should play less, and certain guys are struggling? All good. That's fair game.

Hey, I'll even chime in. So far this stanza, the Orange defense has been bad, allowing roughly 80 points per game. The team's transition defense is quite frustrating - guys aren't even hustling back on defense.

The squad is woeful from 3-point land. Junior small forward Chris Bell needs to improve from long distance. Senior point guard Jaquan Carlos has played better of late but still can play even better, and we need him to, especially with junior guard J.J. Starling out indefinitely due to an injury.

I'd like to see redshirt junior guard Kyle Cuffe Jr. get more run. I'm glad that freshman shooting guard Elijah Moore is playing a sizable amount these days. Big men Eddie Lampkin Jr., a graduate student, Donnie Freeman, a freshman, and Jyare Davis, a senior, have put some strong performances together in recent contests, but if I'm being honest, no one on the Orange's 2024-25 roster is all that consistent with his production.

There's no question in my mind that Autry can recruit, and so can his assistant coaches and the team's general manager. But can Autry lead this program back to ACC and national relevancy with his coaching abilities?

If I'm being honest, I'm not sure one way or another. Since taking over, Autry's combined record from last term and this season is 25-17. That's not awful, but it's not good, either.

With a top-10 national class in the 2025 cycle, I'm reserving judgment for now. Then again, if the Orange absolutely implodes in 2024-25, the fan base is going to go nuts. Would SU athletics director John Wildhack fire Autry if Syracuse basketball won, say, fewer than 10 games this season?

I don't want to even think about that sort of scenario. What I will say is this. I just spent this column giving my opinions on a variety of topics, and I didn't sugarcoat the current state of Syracuse basketball.

Yet, at the same time, I didn't call any coaches or players words such as garbage, trash, or much, much worse. Trust me, coaches and players see the comments on social media, and they're human beings, too.

There's nothing wrong with expressing frustration, even vehement frustration. But an anonymous "keyboard warrior" on Facebook, X, etc., taking cheap, personal shots at coaches and/or players is immature, it's unnecessary, and it's counter-productive.

Express your frustration without the meanness. It's not that difficult, and it's the grown-up thing to do.