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Following back-to-back losses to Boston College and Virginia Tech, Syracuse has fallen to .500 in conference play before hosting Miami at home Saturday. The Orange have fallen to No. 77 in the NET Rankings, while EvanMiya labels them as “Not Close” to earning a March Madness berth with the 79th-best NCAA Tournament resume.

The Hurricanes, meanwhile, are No. 37 in the NET Rankings amid a resurgent season led by first-year head coach Jai Lucas. Following a 7-24 campaign, Miami replenished its entire roster and coaching staff, which has helped it place fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s standings.

The matchup is a crucial one for SU to get back on track in a potential make-or-break season for head coach Adrian Autry.

Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse (12-7, 3-3 ACC) will fare against Miami (15-4, 4-2 ACC):

Aiden Stepansky (13-6)
Free fallin’
Syracuse 75, Miami 78

If you know me, you know I love some classic rock. When I look at Syracuse’s season and the Autry era currently, I think of a free fall — more specifically, Tom Petty’s 1989 hit “Free Fallin’.” The Orange continues to spiral out of control. The Hurricanes will be SU’s latest heartbreakers.

While Miami enters on a two-game losing streak, too, that probably makes things worse for Syracuse. The Hurricanes are still proven to be a possible NCAA Tournament team, and their hunger to bounce back from an embarrassing loss to Florida State will only grow.

Additionally, Malik Reneau and Tre Donaldson are dominating defenses. Maybe the SU of a few weeks ago would be in control to shut down defensively, but not this current squad, who has failed to follow its winning formula in crunch time. The losses to Boston College and Virginia Tech only lit the flame furthered that point.

The signs of the free fall were there before the losing commenced. Allowing 86 points to Florida State is something these beat writers weren’t smart enough to see as an obvious foreshadowing of future failure. However, we understand it now. The truth is, Syracuse did invest more and build a better roster. But so did almost every other ACC school. Miami will be no different.

Cooper Andrews (14-5)
Parental discretion is advised
Syracuse 71, Miami 79

For both parents of young Syracuse basketball fans and avid watchers of Adrian Autry’s postgame press conferences, parental discretion is advised from here on out. Not only is this Orange team a rough watch, but there may also be some curse words following any given game.

I can still hear the vitriol in Autry’s voice — “We get another chance, and we walk under the f—ing basketball, under the rim and we don’t get the rebound,” he said after SU couldn’t grab a board off a free throw in the final seconds, clinching VT’s win.

The swearing might not continue to go public after a quick chat with Syracuse’s media relations department. However, Autry will likely keep muttering some F-bombs under his breath as he roams the sideline Saturday afternoon, when SU drops another contest. This time to Miami.

The Hurricanes are simply a more-complete team than the Orange. Though Miami’s lost its last two games, I don’t see its slide persisting against a Syracuse team that’s struggled on defense in ACC play. The Hurricanes have won every game in which they scored at least 70 points, and I see that trend continuing when they beat the Orange in the Dome.

Justin Girshon (13-6)
Am I delusional?
Syracuse 77, Miami 76

Deep down, I truly do believe Syracuse is a good team that can get on any given court, any given day and compete. Obviously, with what’s transpired over the past two games, that hasn’t looked to be the case.

And with the season now basically on the line every single game going forward, I would expect to see Autry and Co. having the Orange playing like their season — and potentially their jobs — are on the line. That will start with a thrilling home win over the Hurricanes.

For as good as Miami has been this season, it has to be noted that it’s also on a two-game losing streak while averaging 61 points per game. While the JMA Wireless Dome’s home-court advantage hasn’t been anywhere close to what it’s been in the past, it’s also worth noting that winning conference games on the road is difficult.

With just enough of a jolt from playing at home and playing with added fire with what’s at stake, I see SU winning a thrilling one-point game. It doesn’t mean Syracuse is all of a sudden “back.” But a win will help the Orange survive another day.

Published on January 23, 2026 at 10:04 pm