Never in a million years did I think that Syracuse basketball, with this "talented" roster, would finish its 2025-26 regular season with a losing record. But that's what happened, and that's how far this program, one of the winningest teams in the history of collegiate hoops, has fallen.
It's frustrating and sad.
On Saturday afternoon, with Orange legend Carmelo Anthony in the house on senior day at the JMA Wireless Dome, the 'Cuse fell by two points in overtime to a terrible Pittsburgh group, in an Atlantic Coast Conference clash featuring two head coaches, Syracuse's Adrian Autry and Pitt's Jeff Capel, who could lose their jobs at the end of the 2025-26 term.
With SU's 71-69 overtime setback to the Panthers (12-19 overall, 5-13 in ACC), Syracuse basketball wrapped up the regular season with five straight losses. Five. The 'Cuse (15-16 overall, 6-12 in ACC) also has produced two straight losing records in its regular seasons, and the Orange needs to win two games in this week's ACC Tournament in Charlotte, N.C., to avoid a second consecutive overall term under .500.
Syracuse basketball, unfortunately, couldn't get it done on senior day.
Against long-time foe Pittsburgh, the 'Cuse fell behind 20-11 in the first half, only to go on a 20-8 run to go up 31-28 at the intermission. In the second half, the Panthers took a 49-37 lead with about 11 minutes to go, before the Orange tied things up at 52-52 with roughly six minutes remaining in regulation.
Near the end of the second half, redshirt senior small forward Nate Kingz saw a 3-point attempt rattle around and out, and this conference contest headed to overtime. With the score tied at 69-69, SU had the ball and a chance to go ahead, but the Orange put forth a poor offensive possession that resulted in a 3-point heave by sophomore power forward Donnie Freeman.
Pittsburgh would take the lead on the next possession following a goaltending call against the 'Cuse. On Syracuse basketball's final play, junior point guard Naithan George couldn't connect on a 3-point shot from near mid-court. Ball game.
While SU had defeated Pitt on the road, 83-72, this past January, the Orange lost at home on Saturday afternoon in embarrassing fashion, with senior shooting guard J.J. Starling playing 27 minutes and not scoring a single point. Syracuse basketball is now 77-53 in its all-time series with the Panthers, and the Orange, as the No. 14 seed, will face No. 11 seed SMU on Tuesday, March 10, in the ACC Tournament's first round.
George poured in a season-high 26 points, along with six rebounds, four assists, two steals and just two turnovers. Freeman tallied a double-double of 18 points and 13 boards. Kingz finished with 14 points.
The Orange's bench was limited, as freshman shooting guard Kiyan Anthony and freshman forward Sadiq White Jr. were both unavailable after suffering injuries in the team's road loss to Louisville last Tuesday.
Syracuse basketball made 39.0 percent from the field, 29.2 percent from beyond the arc and 94.1 percent (!!!) from the free-throw line. Pittsburgh connected on 44.1 percent from the field, 23.1 percent from downtown and 65.0 percent from the charity stripe.
In other statistical categories, the Panthers led 10-7 in points off turnovers, 12-6 in second-chance points, 16-5 in bench points, 36-26 in paint points, 39-34 in total rebounds and 8-3 in steals. On the flip side, the Orange led 5-2 in blocks, 10-8 in assists and 11-10 in turnovers forced.
Each team had four fast-break points. On to Charlotte we go.