There are numerous reasons why Syracuse basketball has endured one of its worst seasons in decades during the 2024-25 campaign, and why some Orange fans want to see Adrian Autry removed as the team's head coach before 2025-26 commences.
From my perspective, three of the main flaws with this 'Cuse roster center on poor defense, turnovers and relatively sub-par 3-point shooting. Those first two issues were on display in the Orange's latest awful setback, a six-point loss at Virginia Tech on Saturday.
What frustrated me the most about the 'Cuse falling to the Hokies in Blacksburg, Va., is that Syracuse basketball had this game in the bag, so to speak. The Orange found itself leading on the road by 13 points roughly mid-way through the second half.
At that juncture, I felt somewhat optimistic that the 'Cuse would end up notching its third true road victory of the 2024-25 season. But I wasn't feeling supremely optimistic, because this Orange roster, and its coaching staff, have demonstrated on many occasions this term that they can't close out games, particularly against higher-quality foes.
I hate to say it, but I'm ready for this Syracuse basketball season to end.
On Saturday, in that second half, the 'Cuse defense didn't hold up its end of the bargain, and the squad committed more turnovers, leading to some points for Virginia Tech that the Orange ultimately could ill-afford to allow.
To its credit, Syracuse basketball did tie things up at the end of regulation in dramatic fashion. Yet the Hokies (13-16, 8-10 in the ACC) would prevail in overtime, 101-95. This was another example of how frustrating 2024-25 has proven for second-year head coach Adrian Autry and his players.
The Orange (12-17, 6-12 in the ACC) gave up 44 points in the second half and 19 in the extra five minutes to Virginia Tech. That's bad. The 'Cuse only committed four turnovers in the first half, but for this entire Atlantic Coast Conference clash, Syracuse basketball committed 14 turnovers, as compared to 10 for the Hokies, a group that led 22-17 in points off turnovers.
Look at this setback another way. The Orange made 54 percent from the field, 40 percent from beyond the arc and 79 percent from the free-throw line. It out-rebounded Virginia Tech, 30-23. And the 'Cuse still lost.
Based on other ACC results on Saturday, as reported by Mike Waters of Syracuse.com, the Orange has landed a berth in the upcoming ACC Tournament from Charlotte, N.C., due to the 'Cuse securing a top-15 finish in the 18-member league.
In no way am I celebrating this "accomplishment." That we're even talking about Syracuse basketball, one of the all-time winningest teams in college basketball history, having to battle for a spot in the ACC Tournament, to me, shows where this program currently resides.
As I opined not too long ago, it saddens me where the Orange finds itself these days.