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Adrian Autry nodded his head in agreement that, once again, Syracuse’s offense couldn’t get things going. On New Year’s Eve, it took a stupendous showing from Donnie Freeman for the Orange to even have a chance at snatching a win over Clemson in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener. Besides that, SU looked erratic in transition and stagnant in the half court.

Year three of the Autry era was supposed to reveal the unabating up-tempo offense that he wanted to instill long ago. Instead, the Orange are one of the slowest teams in the ACC. Their adjusted tempo rating of 68.8 ranks 199th in the nation, per KenPom, 75 spots lower than where they finished last year. A fast-paced offense is all about taking more shots, yet no ACC team attempts fewer shots per game than SU (56.7).

Fourteen games into Autry’s pivotal 2025-26 campaign, his ideas to fix Syracuse’s offense are the same as they were in the preseason.

“(Our guards have) got to be able to make plays quick,” Autry said on Dec. 31. “Our bigs have to do a better job of presenting themselves. Those are the things we can tweak, the pace of (the offense). We want to play a little bit faster.”

Playing faster sounds simple. But Syracuse (9-5, 0-1 ACC) has only regressed in that field despite a new-look roster featuring Naithan George, Nate Kingz, Sadiq White and Kiyan Anthony as well as returners in Freeman and J.J. Starling — all stud athletes who Autry brought in to fit his play style. The Orange did everything possible to give themselves an offensive identity. And they still lack one.

Following Syracuse’s underwhelming 76-62 win over Mercyhurst on Dec. 17, Autry boldly declared there is “nothing wrong” with the Orange’s offense. He believes they have all the “ingredients” to excel.

But nobody other than Freeman is playing to their potential on the offensive end. Worst of all, SU has failed to be the relentless, quick-possession team Autry said it would grow into.

He said after Syracuse’s loss to Clemson he wants this offense to run through his star forward, Freeman, and his top-scoring guard, Starling, so the Orange can quickly move the ball. Thus far, SU’s assist percentage of 48.1% is third-to-last among ACC teams.

“We would like to move the ball, share the ball,” Autry said of what Syracuse needs to do to improve. “We have a lot of talented offensive players, but in particular Donnie (Freeman) and J.J. (Starling). Those guys, they get a bulk of what we’re trying to do. Those guys are really good and they’re a big part of what we’re doing.”

The frustrations of the March Madness-less Autry era are beginning to boil over in central New York due to the narrative he doesn’t run a coherent offense. Instead of preaching strategy, Autry resorts to his mantra of “level five fight,” saying his team can beat anybody as long as they exert supreme effort.

But merely having more “energy” than another opponent is arbitrary. And “effort” is required of every single sports team and athlete on Earth. What’s different about Syracuse’s energy? SU’s 9-5 record — 1-5 versus Quad 1-3 opponents and 8-0 against Quad 4 teams — suggests not much is different about its “fight” compared to anybody else’s.

When the Orange play a lineup of returners Starling and Freeman, along with transfers George, Kingz, and Kyle — Autry’s intended starting five — it is their most-efficient combination, per EvanMiya. But that group has only seen 53 possessions together due to Freeman and Starling’s past injuries. Matthew Crisafulli | Contributing Photographer

Though to the chagrin of many of Autry’s naysayers, the Orange do run an offense. It’s not a fast one, but it is one. And Clemson head coach Brad Brownell figured it out pretty quickly.

Brownell explained what Syracuse tries to do on offense, particularly in half-court sets. The Orange play through running initial action, which includes ball screens, multiple dribble hand-offs — often leading to another ball screen — or throwing the ball to a big man inside, all meant to spread out opposing defenses, Brownell said.

He added when defenses try to stall a team’s initial action, they’re usually caught defending the “play after the play” — where the ball goes following that first ball screen, pass, or whatever it may be.

“I don’t think it’s uncharacteristic to college basketball,” Brownell said.

That could be the problem, though. SU’s offense lacks flavor. Prior to the Clemson game, Anthony said the Orange struggle to adjust when defenses hinder their initial action. Though Syracuse has “good offensive sets,” according to Anthony, it’s often caught without a backup plan, causing SU to revert to isolation ball.

“I would say the players and the coaches could be on a better page when the first initial play breaks down, or the action, and we could just figure out what to do after that,” Anthony said on Dec. 17.

For example, if a defense isn’t confused by a few dribble hand-offs in Syracuse’s backcourt, it has a tough time adjusting from there. After all, being forced into a half-court offense is never what Autry and Co. wanted, but it’s what they’re getting.

George also touched on the inconsistencies, saying despite the team’s desire to get out in transition, the Orange need to improve on taking what the defense gives them. They also simply need to run Autry’s offensive sets with heightened efficiency, he said.

“The close games all come down to that half-court execution, because you can’t really push (the pace) then,” George said on Dec. 17. “Honing in on the details is what we need and that’s what will separate us.”

Right now, Syracuse is 15th in the ACC in points per possession in the half-court offense.

Brownell pleaded for Syracuse fans to be patient with Autry and that winning “takes time.” After all, Autry’s scheme does work in bits and pieces.

Late against Clemson, SU ran a flawless half-court play where Freeman, spotting the Tigers playing aggressively on the ball screen, rolled hard to the basket after setting a pick as the initial action before William Kyle III sealed off his man so Freeman could have a wide-open scoring lane. Freeman cashed in to make it just a 63-61 deficit for Syracuse in the final minute.

And there’s merit around Autry’s desire for Freeman and Starling to carry the offense. When the Orange play a lineup of those two along with George, Kingz, and Kyle — Autry’s intended starting five — it is their most-efficient combination, per EvanMiya.

Problem is, that group has only seen 53 possessions together due to Freeman and Starling’s past injuries.

It’s why Brownell wants people to give this Orange team some time to gel. Sure, he dissected Syracuse’s offense in short order, but he thinks they’ll look a whole lot different once the team’s chemistry finally clicks.

“I think you have to have a little patience with Red (Autry) and this group,” Brownell said. “I think this is his most talented team for sure. (Freeman is) going to keep getting better and so will Syracuse.”

Until then, expect the Orange to keep relying on “initial action” as their identity — a far cry from being fast paced.

Published on January 2, 2026 at 8:17 am
Contact Cooper: ccandrew@syr.edu | @cooper_andrews