The Orange had the program’s lowest win total since 1970 and have failed to make the NCAA Tournament four straight years, an eternity for the storied program that puts pressure on third-year coach Adrian Autry. Athletic director John Wildhack said his expectation is for this year’s team playing “meaningful games” in March. Autry got a huge boost when senior J.J. Starling and highly regarded sophomore Donnie Freeman returned. The transfer portal class is highlighted by point guard Naithan George, last season’s ACC assist leader, and sharpshooter Nate Kingz. Autry landed top-50 recruits in Sadiq White Jr. and Kiyan Anthony. Improved defense is paramount. Syracuse allowed nearly 78 points a game, which ranked 314th nationally.
Players to watch
Starling (senior, G, 6-4, 17.8 ppg) and Freeman (sophomore, F, 6-9, 13.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg) must stay healthy. Starling missed seven games, while Freeman appeared in just 14 following a season-ending foot injury. The arrivals of George (junior, G, 6-3, 6.5 apg) and Kingz are just as big. The offense will run through George, who earned honorable mention All-ACC recognition at Georgia Tech. This should free Starling from ball-handling duties, and open things up for Kingz (Oregon State), who was 36th in the nation in 3-point percentage (44.3%). Anthony will draw attention since he is the son of Syracuse legend and Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony.
Departures and arrivals
White, a 6-foot-9 forward, was regarded as a top recruit and known for tenacious defense. Two more transfer portal additions are 6-foot-9 William Kyle III (UCLA, senior) and 6-9 Ibrahim Souare (Georgia Tech, redshirt sophomore). Kyle is expected to play a big role defending the rim in replacing Eddie Lampkin, who contributed mightily on offense but was a liability on defense.
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Top games
After opening with four winnable games, the Orange face a gantlet that could determine their postseason fate. In a Las Vegas showcase, Syracuse faces No. 2 Houston and No. 19 Kansas on Nov. 24 and Nov. 25, with a potential matchup against another top team on Nov. 26. On Dec. 2, Syracuse hosts No. 18 Tennessee.
Facts and figures
Syracuse posted its second losing season in five years after previously not having any since 1969-70. … The Orange made just 33% of their 3-point attempts last season, ranking 224th in the country. Conversely, 55.7% of the offense came inside the 3-point line, 27th nationally. ... Starling and Freeman played in only seven games together. … Starling suffered a broken finger over the summer but should be ready for the season opener Nov. 3.… Kyle was Summit League Defensive Player of the Year his sophomore season at South Dakota State.
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