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LAS VEGAS — Even at this moment, all Adrian Autry could do was laugh. The mention that his team probably had the most difficult draw in the Players Era Festival was brought up.

No. 3 Houston. Kansas. No. 15 Iowa State. Three programs within college basketball’s upper echelon, where Syracuse used to belong. And three Big 12 teams that beat the Orange back-to-back-to-back.

As Autry reflected on the gauntlet SU faced, he smiled. The third-year head coach emphasized that the Orange were excited, adding that these opportunities are why they came to Las Vegas.

“We walked away with three Quad 1 opportunities. You gotta have those,” Autry said.

However, needing them and getting them are vastly different. And Syracuse (4-3, Atlantic Coast) will head back to central New York with as many Quad 1 wins as it had when it landed in Sin City.

No doubt, it was a tough draw and this can be a valuable learning experience. At the same time, it was a crucial missed opportunity for the Orange, who, with just one win, would’ve shown the college basketball world they’re back to the Syracuse of old. The one that formed the “Orange Standard.” Not whatever the program has since become.

Since Autry took over for Hall of Fame head coach Jim Boeheim in 2023, SU has won just two Quad 1 games. But those came in his first season, and with three losses to begin this campaign, the Orange have a 13-game Quad 1 losing streak dating back to the 2024-25 season.

It’s an almost indescribable downfall for a program that, historically, can get on any hardwood at any time in any place and compete with the best in the country. But history and the present clearly aren’t matching for Syracuse.

SU has missed four straight NCAA Tournaments — dating back to Jim Boeheim’s final two seasons — their longest drought since missing six in a row from 1967–72. Among those four, last season was the lowlight, as SU’s 14-19 record was its worst since 1968-69.

The shortcomings from Autry’s first two seasons at the helm make this one pivotal. So pivotal that, if the Orange again miss March Madness, he should lose his job.

Over the offseason, Autry, general manager Alex Kline and Co. built the best roster SU has had in Autry’s tenure to help avoid that scenario. The early-season results were highly encouraging. Four straight wins moved Syracuse to No. 61 on KenPom and No. 44 on EvanMiya.

Just one win in Vegas would’ve boosted those figures even further, helping the Orange get an early start on moving their March Madness résumé closer to the top of the pile. Instead, they’ve already moved themselves to the outside looking in.

Following a blowout loss to Iowa State, KenPom moved Syracuse down to No. 72. EvanMiya hasn’t updated yet, but when the algorithm factors in Donnie Freeman’s injury, SU was rated No. 64 entering Wednesday’s matchup.

Speaking of Freeman, his absence this week is, of course, a reason why Syracuse didn’t win a game. But missing your leading scorer can’t be the excuse when you lose three games, especially when you had to have one.

J.J. Starling, Naithan George and Nate Kingz are on this team to be guys who can lift the Orange in any given game. Across the Players Era, the trio combined to average 25.3 points per game while shooting 27-of-77 total from the field (35%).

The three are undeniably great players and will be influential in the Orange reaching their ceiling. But their performance this week simply doesn’t cut it.

What should make this all the more disappointing for Syracuse is that, for most of the 125 minutes it played in the MGM Grand Garden Arena — outside of the final 20 against the Cyclones on Wednesday — it looked like it belonged playing three of the best teams in the sport.

Taking Houston to overtime. Pulling within two against Kansas with five minutes remaining. Trailing Iowa State by one at the half.

But SU never came through when it needed to most to win. Letting a golden opportunity slip versus the Cougars on Monday made Syracuse’s matchup with the Jayhawks feel like a must-win.

And after the Orange fell short, facing the Cyclones was a must-win. Following a loss, next week’s matchup against No. 17 Tennessee at home is an absolute must-win to have a pulse of returning to March.

Instead of fighting to be on the bubble, SU should be competing for national championships every year. Autry knows that’s the expectation.

“We want to make deep March runs and try to win one. That’s the goal. That’s always the goal,” he said at Syracuse’s media day in October.

When describing the “Orange Standard,” Autry mentioned that everyone familiar with Syracuse basketball knows it’s one of the best programs in college basketball. That, under Boeheim’s tutelage, the Orange always had a chance, and they’re going to compete for national championships.

That’s not the case right now.

Playing in the Players Era was the closest SU has been to relevance since the 2021 NCAA Tournament. As the tournament expands to 32 teams next year, CEO Seth Berger said on Tuesday that numerous teams are already locked into returning to Vegas.

When discussing Syracuse’s playing in the Players Era in October, Autry said it would be a “problem” when the Orange stop being in “those tournaments.” Postgame Wednesday, the head coach revealed he doesn’t know whether the Orange will be back.

“I haven’t had that discussion yet,” Autry said. “I don’t know anything about that.”

It could be because even he doesn’t know whether he’ll be coaching SU next year. Had the Orange won one game this week, this wouldn’t be a discussion. It could be argued that a victory would’ve brought Syracuse the closest to the “Orange Standard” since Autry became head coach.

But that’s in a make-believe scenario. It didn’t happen.

The reality is the Orange lost three Quad 1 games in a crucial missed opportunity. As a result, Autry’s seat is starting to heat up.

It’ll only get hotter if Syracuse continues falling short in pivotal Quad 1 games.

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.

Published on November 26, 2025 at 6:23 pm
Contact Justin: justingirshon@gmail.com | @JustinGirshon