Girshon: Adrian Autry has no excuses heading into make-or-break Year 3
Adrian Autry sits along the bench during Syracuse's exhibition win over Buffalo. Our beat writer argues Autry has no excuses in his third year as SU's head coach. Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor
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One of the oldest sayings is three strikes and you’re out. That, of course, originates from baseball, where a player is sent back to the dugout after striking out.
Adrian Autry doesn’t play baseball — he coaches the Syracuse men’s basketball team. But much like a baseball player who’s taken two strikes, he’s down in the count 0-2.
That’s because the Orange have missed the NCAA Tournament in Autry’s first two years as their head coach. He hasn’t come particularly close, either. Especially not last year, when SU’s 14-19 record was its worst since the 1968-69 season, extending its March Madness drought to four years — its longest spell in over five decades.
If Autry fails to lead Syracuse back to March Madness with his most talented roster yet, it’ll be akin to a fastball right down the middle for a called strike three. Though instead of heading back to the dugout to wait for his next at-bat, his job will be gone, and there won’t be any excuses for why he should get another chance.
Is making the NCAA Tournament a fair benchmark? Depending on how you look at it, maybe it is, maybe it isn’t.
But take it from Autry himself.
He said he looks at every year as March Madness or bust during SU’s media day.
He said he not only wants to make the NCAA Tournament every year, but he also wants to compete and try to win it.
“I’m not here just to be mediocre,” Autry said. “That’s not why I’m here.”
Autry knows Syracuse is meant to be heralded as one of the best programs in college basketball. He said as much when explaining what the “Orange Standard” is, saying that SU is historically known as one of college basketball’s best programs.
In their efforts to help restore the “Orange Standard,” Autry and general manager Alex Kline deserve their flowers for the offseason they had. It arguably went as well as it possibly could’ve.
They retained their two best players in J.J. Starling and Donnie Freeman. Spearheaded by the reigning ACC assists leader Naithan George, SU acquired six transfers. And, unlike last year’s haul, the majority weren’t from mid-major programs.
George has the potential to make an All-ACC Team. Nate Kingz was one of the best 3-point shooters in college basketball last year. William Kyle III, Tyler Betsey and Akir Souare were all rotation players at Power Five programs last year and have untapped potential.
And that’s before mentioning one of the program’s best freshmen classes in recent memory, highlighted by consensus top-40 prospects Sadiq White and Kiyan Anthony, Carmelo’s son.
This team has talent. Legit talent.
Syracuse guard J.J Starling dribbles up the court in SU’s exhibition win over Buffalo. Starling led the Orange with 17.8 points per game last season. Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor
There’s no doubt that the Orange won the offseason. But that means nothing if it doesn’t result in wins when it counts.
Last March, SU Director of Athletics John Wildhack didn’t give a benchmark Autry must reach in Year 3 to keep his job any longer. He did, however, lay out expectations for the program.
“The goal of this program is we should be playing meaningful games in March,” Wildhack said on Cuse Sports Talk after announcing Autry would return as Syracuse’s head coach.
At Syracuse, that means winning in the NCAA Tournament. Yes, showing improvement is a good sign that Autry can successfully lead the program back to the “Orange Standard.” Yes, March technically entails winning some games in the ACC Tournament.
Though that doesn’t get a banner put up in the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center. Reaching March Madness does.
Anything short of that is an afterthought for a program like the Orange’s. If Autry goes 0-3 in reaching the NCAA Tournament, it’s a tenure that warrants a change.
Autry’s best comparison is Kyle Neptune, who replaced Jay Wright at Villanova. Neptune’s predecessor won two national titles before retiring in 2022. After taking over for Wright, Neptune missed three consecutive NCAA Tournaments and was fired.
So, after taking over for a legendary head coach at a top-tier program, the successor was fired after missing the NCAA Tournament in each of his first three years. If SU misses March Madness again, that would essentially mirror Autry’s path since he took over for Jim Boeheim in 2023.
Throughout Boeheim’s 47-year tenure at the helm, SU made 35 NCAA Tournament appearances, five Final Fours and won the 2003 National Championship. He established Syracuse as a blue blood, but since handing the program over to Autry — though Boeheim shoulders some of the blame, too — it’s a distinction the program no longer holds.
If the Orange want to regain that status, a March Madness appearance this season is the bare minimum. Remember: Autry isn’t here to be mediocre. Thus far, the head coach has swung and missed twice.
Since the final buzzer sounded on SU’s worst season this century, Autry’s done everything needed to return it to March Madness. It’s now or never for him to prove he should be trusted to restore the “Orange Standard.”
If he strikes out on three consecutive pitches, Wildhack will have no choice but to fire Autry.
Justin Girshon is a Senior Staff Writer at The Daily Orange, where his column appears occasionally. He can be reached at justingirshon@gmail.com or on X @JustinGirshon.
