SU athletics director John Wildhack, who is retiring on July 1, has said that his expectation for Syracuse basketball and its head coach, Adrian Autry, during the 2025-26 season was for the program to play meaningful games in March.
But the definition of meaningful games likely contains some sort of gray area, right? It's anticipated that Autry's three-year run as the Orange's head coach will likely be over sometime next week, when the 'Cuse see its campaign culminate in the ACC Tournament, which will run from March 10 to March 14 in Charlotte, N.C.
However, what if Syracuse basketball goes to Charlotte and wins the whole darn thing, much like N.C. State did in 2024 in Washington, D.C., capturing the ACC Tournament crown in stunning fashion as a double-digit seed? (Oh, and to refresh your memory, the Wolfpack beat the Orange two Marches ago on its miraculous run in our nation's capital.)
First and foremost, if somehow, someway, Syracuse basketball won next week's ACC Tournament, it would automatically qualify for the 2026 Big Dance, an annual event that the 'Cuse last journeyed to in 2021.
So that would be exciting. And what if the Orange, as a double-digit seed in March Madness, springs a few upsets and advances to the Sweet 16 or further? All these victories would qualify as meaningful games in March, yes?
It may be next to impossible for Adrian Autry to save his job at the ACC Tournament.
That would put Wildhack - and potentially his successor, who could be revealed sooner rather than later - in an interesting position. Former long-time Syracuse basketball head coach Jim Boeheim, the Hall of Famer, has said that what matters the most is what a program does in the NCAA Tournament.
He's right. At the same time, a team can "mask" a subpar season with an unexpected run in the Big Dance. Let's be real. The Orange did that in 2016 (Final Four), 2018 (Sweet 16) and 2021 (Sweet 16), when SU was a double-digit seed in each of those NCAA Tournaments.
Was Syracuse basketball an overly impressive squad in each of those seasons? Not at all. Yet the 'Cuse did damage when it counted the most. What if Red and his 2025-26 roster do that coming up? Should he be retained beyond the current campaign?
It's a tough call. On the one hand, the Orange's 2025-26 roster, on paper, looked like it would be a massive improvement over last season's 14-19 group. But here we are, staring down a 2025-26 team that is 15-15 overall and 6-11 in Atlantic Coast Conference competition ahead of Saturday's regular-season finale against Pittsburgh at the JMA Wireless Dome.
My point is that this campaign has been an utter disappointment. Plus, Autry is just 49-46 overall at SU's helm. Many in the fan base are ready for a head coaching change, regardless of what happens in the ACC Tournament or - dare I say - beyond.
Still, in Charlotte, on a neutral floor, the 'Cuse as a double-digit seed could potentially play, and upset, teams such as top-ranked Duke, No. 13 Virginia, No. 17 North Carolina or No. 22 Miami, among others. Quadrant-one opportunities will be available to SU.
Then again, since joining the ACC in 2013-14 from the Big East Conference, Syracuse basketball has never won more than one game in an ACC Tournament. So it's a huge stretch to think that the 'Cuse could claim the grand prize next week in Charlotte.
But what if the Orange does? Five wins in five days. Then maybe two wins in the Big Dance. Would that save Red's job? I have no idea. I'd love to go along for the ride, though.
That being said, such a run over the next few weeks might be masking what has been a rough past two seasons for Syracuse basketball under Autry. As much as I love Red, and his assistants, I think it's time for change.
Even if 'Cuse ends up playing numerous meaningful games deeper into March than we all could have expected at this juncture.