When junior guard J.J. Starling, the team's leading scorer at nearly 20 points per game, does return from his injury, I have every confidence that it will provide a boost to Syracuse basketball.
But will it be enough for the Orange to have a successful 2024-25 season? I'm not so sure, and I think J.J. is a fabulous player.
To be fair, what will constitute a successful 2024-25 for the 'Cuse might differ from fan to fan, although Syracuse basketball players and coaches, ahead of the current term, certainly wanted to return to the annual NCAA Tournament following a three-year absence.
If I'm assessing things honestly, 13 contests into 2024-25, I don't envision the Orange evolving into a contender for an invite to the 2025 Big Dance, and that makes me sad. And frustrated. And irritated. And sad.
What exactly is the identify of the Syracuse basketball 2024-25 roster?
Before this season commenced, I assumed that the 'Cuse might experience some growing pains. After all, while the Syracuse basketball roster does include a lot of veteran guys, it also contains four college transfers and three incoming freshmen.
That's seven new faces and five returnees from 2023-24 encompassing this squad's roster of 12 scholarship players. So a bit of time to gel as a cohesive unit is understandable, but how this team has played for much of the current stanza is unacceptable, and I write that while remaining a proud SU alum.
I just can't figure out what the Orange's identity is, particularly with Starling unavailable. Second-year head coach Adrian Autry, based on his starting line-ups and rotations in recent games, still seems to be figuring out the best combinations for his program, too.
As I noted on Tuesday after the 'Cuse fell at the JMA Wireless Dome to Wake Forest, 81-71, Syracuse basketball still hasn't beaten an opponent from a power conference in 2024-25. That's unfortunate.
For some context, as the Orange prepares to travel to Florida State this Saturday evening, Syracuse basketball resides at 6-7 overall and 0-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference competition.
Five of the team's setbacks have been decided by 10 points or fewer. Two losses - at Tennessee and to Maryland in Brooklyn, N.Y. - amounted to blow-out defeats.
Thus, it would be human nature to say, well, if Starling didn't get injured, maybe the Orange has one or two more victories. Perhaps. But that's pure speculation.
What is the 'Cuse identity? I ask again, because I just don't know. The team, by and large, struggles on defense. The Orange is fairly awful from beyond the arc. Syracuse basketball has, in many of its games, fared well on the boards. In recent affairs, the 'Cuse has committed way too many turnovers.
Amid Starling being out for the last seven games, Autry has tinkered with his starting line-up some. My biggest concern is merely a general lack of consistency. To me, it appears like virtually every player on the 2024-25 roster has put forth a solid performance or two or three for Syracuse basketball, but then struggled in other contests.
I'm really not in the mood to single out specific players, because we can all look up the box scores and statistics on ESPN to see what this guy is doing and that guy is doing. The bottom line is that, as soon as possible, the Orange roster and coaching staff must figure out what this team's identity is.
Otherwise, I fear that an already long 2024-25 season, as we turn the calendar year to 2025, will prove even longer for the program and its fan base.