S
yracuse fans swarmed the JMA Wireless Dome’s court in jubilation after the Orange upset No. 7 North Carolina on Feb. 13, 2024. It marked SU’s first win over an AP Top 10 opponent since 2019 and is the signature moment of head coach Adrian Autry’s three seasons at the helm.
The Orange went on to finish the 2023-24 season with their most wins since the 2018-19 campaign, showing promise that the program was trending back toward the right direction following Jim Boeheim’s retirement. However, SU took a significant step back in Autry’s second year, faltering to the program’s worst season since 1968-69.
This season, while there have been improvements, Syracuse is outside of the projected NCAA Tournament field in a potential make-or-break year for Autry. With the Orange (15-12, 6-8 ACC) hosting No. 16 North Carolina (20-5, 8-4 ACC) on Saturday, they have another chance for a signature win to help keep their March Madness hopes alive.
Here’s a look at how Syracuse got here following its upset over the Tar Heels two years ago:
March 2, 2024: Syracuse notches first 20-win season since 2018-19
Aidan Groeling | Daily Orange File Photo
In its penultimate regular-season game, Syracuse downed Louisville 82-76 on the road to clinch its first 20-win season since the 2018-19 campaign.
The victory put the Orange fourth in the ACC with an 11-8 record in conference play. Just under a month prior, SU was 5-6 against ACC foes, and Autry apologized to the university for getting crushed 99-70 by Wake Forest.
“It’s crazy how fast the tables can turn,” guard Quadir Copeland said after the game. “But I feel like we are a team that’s prepared for it.”
March 13, 2024: Syracuse suffers 2nd round ACC Tournament loss
Ryan Jermyn | Daily Orange File Photo
After SU lost its regular-season finale to Clemson, it earned the No. 7 seed in the ACC Tournament. While that earned the Orange a first-round bye, they were blown out 83-65 by NC State in the second round.
Syracuse entered Washington, D.C., looking to make a run and earn a March Madness bid.
“I think anytime you get a chance to make a postseason, I think you have to take it,” a dejected Autry said when asked whether his team would accept an invite to the NIT.
March 17, 2024: Syracuse denies NIT bid after missing March Madness
Meghan Hendricks | Daily Orange File Photo
After missing the NCAA Tournament field, SU denied its bid to the NIT despite Autry’s comments at the ACC Tournament.
A statement provided by the SU athletic department to syracuse.com said, “We respect the NIT but our only post-season goal was to play in the NCAA tournament. Therefore, we communicated to the ACC we would not participate in the NIT.”
March 18, 2024: Quadir Copeland enters the transfer portal
Meghan Hendricks | Daily Orange File Photo
After he was the runner-up for the 2023-24 ACC Sixth Man of the Year, Copeland entered the transfer portal less than a week after the Orange’s season ended.
Copeland transferred to McNeese State before following Will Wade to NC State for his senior season, where he’s become one of the best guards in the country.
March 29, 2024: Gerry McNamara named Siena’s head coach
Nick Luttrell | Daily Orange File Photo
Following 15 seasons on Syracuse’s coaching staff, McNamara departed to become Siena’s head coach.
McNamara was promoted from assistant head coach to associate head coach after Autry replaced Boeheim, but he spent just one season in the position before leaving. The Orange hired Dan Engelstad to their coaching staff following McNamara’s departure.
April 1, 2024: Maliq Brown enters the transfer portal
Nick Luttrell | Daily Orange File Photo
Maliq Brown became the Orange’s fifth of an eventual seven players to enter the portal following the 2023-24 season.
He transferred to ACC rival Duke, where he was a key piece on its 2024-25 Final Four team and has again played an influential role thus far in his senior season.
April 2, 2024: Eddie Lampkin Jr. becomes SU’s 1st portal addition
Aaron Hammer | Staff Photographer
As SU underwent significant roster turnover, the first and perhaps biggest addition of a four-player portal class was Colorado transfer Eddie Lampkin Jr. Alongside Lampkin, the Orange acquired Jyáre Davis, Jaquan Carlos and Lucas Taylor.
April 11, 2024: Judah Mintz announces departure from SU
Meghan Hendricks | Daily Orange File Photo
After averaging 17.5 points and 4.5 assists per game across two seasons at Syracuse, Judah Mintz announced he would be departing from the program. Mintz eventually declared for the 2024 NBA Draft, where he went undrafted, and is now playing overseas.
May 29, 2024: Sadiq White Jr. commits to Syracuse
Leonardo Eriman | Daily Orange File Photo
Sadiq White Jr. became the Orange’s first class of 2025 commitment. White chose SU over six other Power Five schools, including LSU, Alabama, USC, Georgetown, Tennessee and Texas.
June 28, 2024: Syracuse announces Alex Kline as GM
Leonardo Eriman | Daily Orange File Photo
SU hired Alex Kline as the program’s first general manager after working in the NBA for eight years as a scout. Kline didn’t help build Syracuse’s 2024-25 roster, but he — alongside Eugene Tulyagijja, who was hired as a data analyst — played an influential role in building the 2025-26 team.
Nov. 15, 2024: Kiyan Anthony commits to Syracuse
Leonardo Eriman | Daily Orange File Photo
To follow in his father’s footsteps, Kiyan Anthony announced his commitment to SU. Anthony became the fourth of the Orange’s five class of 2025 commits, with the unit ranking among the best in the country.
Dec. 3, 2024: J.J. Starling ruled out indefinitely
Leonardo Eriman | Daily Orange File Photo
After the Orange began the season 4-2, star guard J.J. Starling — who was averaging 19.8 points per game — was ruled out indefinitely due to a broken left hand. Starling wound up missing seven games, the first of which SU was routed 96-70 by No. 3 Tennessee.
“This is not Syracuse basketball,” Autry said postgame.
The loss dropped the Orange to 0-3 in Quad 1 games — they finished the season 0-10 in such games.
Dec. 21, 2024: Adrian Autry declares loss to Maryland as worst of his tenure
Solange Jain | Senior Staff Photographer
Facing Maryland in the Barclays Center, Syracuse was embarrassed 87-60 to drop its record under .500. Autry declared it the worst loss of his tenure as head coach postgame.
“This is the worst,” he said. “This is the most disappointing loss that I’ve had since I’ve been here.”
Jan. 4, 2025: J.J. Starling returns, Donnie Freeman plays final game of season
Angelina Grevi | Daily Orange File Photo
Even with Starling’s return to the lineup, SU fell to 0-3 in ACC play after its 90-74 loss to Florida State. While there was no indication at the time, the game marked five-star freshman Donnie Freeman’s last of the season.
Starling and Freeman, widely regarded as the Orange’s two best players, only played seven games together during the 2024-25 season.
Feb. 11, 2025: Syracuse loses to last-place Miami
Aaron Hammer | Staff Photographer
Syracuse hit another low when it suffered a 91-84 loss to Miami, which placed last in the ACC at the time. With an 11-14 (5-9 ACC) record, SU all but sealed its fate in missing March Madness for the fourth straight year.
“It’s just unacceptable,” Autry said of SU’s performance postgame.
March 12, 2025: Syracuse’s season ends in ACC Tournament
Angelina Grevi | Daily Orange File Photo
While the Orange defeated Florida State in the first round of the ACC Tournament, their season ended a day later in a 20-point loss to SMU. Syracuse’s 42.4% winning percentage was its worst since a 36.0% clip during the 1968-69 season.
“Dynamics changed. Different people had to step into different roles and step up,” Autry said postgame. “I’m not sure if they were kind of ready for that at that time, but we had to adjust.”
March 25, 2025: J.J. Starling and Donnie Freeman announce returns
Leonardo Eriman | Daily Orange File Photo
After playing just seven games together, Starling and Freeman both announced they’d return to Syracuse for the 2025-26 season. They were the only two scholarship players who were brought back, and the Orange built their new roster around the return of their stars.
March 27, 2025: William Kyle III becomes first transfer portal pick-up
Leonardo Eriman | Daily Orange File Photo
SU’s first of six portal additions was former UCLA center William Kyle III. Alongside Kyle, the Orange acquired Nate Kingz, Naithan George, Akir Souare, Tyler Betsey and Bryce Zephir.
Oct. 22, 2025: Eugene Tulyagijja leaves SU for the Knicks
Angelina Grevi | Daily Orange File Photo
After his pivotal role in building the algorithm that Syracuse used to evaluate potential transfer portal options, Tulyagijja was hired by the New York Knicks for a coaching analytics role.
“It was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down,” Tulyagijja said about accepting the Knicks’ offer.
Nov. 26, 2025: Without Donnie Freeman, SU goes 0-3 during Players Era Festival
Joe Zhao | Daily Orange File Photo
Looking to win a fifth straight game to start the season, Freeman — who averaged a team-high 17.8 points — was ruled out hours before Syracuse tipped off the Players Era Festival. The Orange wound up going 0-3 in Las Vegas.
The biggest what-if of the Autry era might be Syracuse’s overtime loss to Houston, which then spiraled with defeats to Kansas and Iowa State.
“We walked away with three Quad 1 opportunities. You gotta have those,” Autry said after falling to ISU.
Dec. 2, 2025: Syracuse notches 1st Quad 1 win in upset over No. 13 Tennessee
Eli Schwartz | Asst. Photo Editor
In what was as close to a “must-win” game as there is in early December, the Orange bounced back from three straight Quad 1 losses during the Players Era Festival by upsetting then-No. 13 Tennessee 62-60. It marked SU’s first Quad 1 win since Autry’s first season at the helm.
“Every win is important,” Autry said postgame. “But in particular, a win at home against a team like Tennessee was huge, because we were so close last week.”
Dec. 13, 2025: Syracuse suffers upset loss to Hofstra
Christian Calabrese | Staff Photographer
Eleven days after the Orange’s best win since upsetting UNC in 2024, they were upset 70-69 by Hofstra in one of the worst losses of the Autry era.
“It’s unacceptable for Syracuse,” Kyle III said postgame.
Dec. 31, 2025: Donnie Freeman plays hero in return, but SU falls to Clemson
Matthew Crisafulli | Staff Photographer
After missing nine games, a stretch in which Syracuse went 5-4, Freeman made his return with 18 points against Clemson in the Orange’s ACC opener. Still, Syracuse fell short, falling 64-61.
Jan. 17, 2026: Syracuse suffers monumental loss to last-place BC in OT
Leonardo Eriman | Daily Orange File Photo
With a chance for the Orange to improve to 4-1 in conference play — they rattled off three straight wins following a loss to Clemson — against last-place Boston College, SU fell 81-73 in overtime to drop its ACC record to 3-2.
“Talent isn’t enough,” Autry said postgame. “Talent isn’t enough because sometimes you just don’t learn when you’re winning.”
Jan. 24, 2026: Syracuse players show displeasure with fan treatment after 3rd straight loss
Leonardo Eriman | Daily Orange File Photo
Following the loss to the Eagles, Syracuse extended its losing streak to three with losses against Virginia Tech and Miami. During the loss to the Hurricanes, there were audible “Fire Autry” chants echoing throughout the Dome.
“You got to respect the guy,” George said of Autry. “He’s trying his best. And of course, you’re gonna come up short, depending on what happens, but he’s just trying his best.”
Feb. 2, 2026: Carmelo Anthony comments “SMFH” on Instagram post
Eli Schwartz | Asst. Photo Editor
During SU’s 87-77 road loss to North Carolina, Carmelo Anthony commented “SMFH” on a Syracuse men’s basketball Instagram post. One game later, Kiyan didn’t play in the Orange’s loss to Virginia, which Autry said was a basketball decision.
Feb. 7, 2026: SU suffers 6th loss in last 7 games in defeat to No. 18 Virginia
Tara Deluca | Asst. Photo Editor
Against the Cavaliers, SU suffered its sixth loss in its last seven games. Under Boeheim, the Orange never lost that many games within a seven-game stretch.
“The games we’ve played are great opportunities,” Autry said postgame. “We ask the same question every time. Obviously, these losses are difficult, and everyone’s frustrated.”
Feb. 11, 2026: Syracuse AD John Wildhack announces retirement
Leonardo Eriman | Daily Orange File Photo
John Wildhack announced his retirement after 10 years as SU’s director of athletics. The move raises even more questions about what Autry’s future as the Orange’s head coach may look like.
Feb. 14, 2026: SU defeats SMU for 2nd straight win, tops last season’s win total
Tara Deluca | Asst. Photo Editor
Following thrilling wins over California and SMU, Syracuse topped its win total from last season and temporarily quieted the noise about its recent struggles and Autry’s future. The Orange are looking to use the victories as a spark to close the regular season on a run.
Feb. 16, 2026: Duke hands Syracuse its largest defeat of the Autry era
Tara Deluca | Asst. Photo Editor
Though back-to-back wins over Cal and SMU gave the Orange a glimmer of hope, then-No. 3 Duke dominated them 101-64 in Cameron Indoor Stadium to snap their winning streak. The 37-point margin of defeat was the worst across Autry’s three years as head coach.
SU trailed 29-24 with three minutes left in the first half before getting outscored 73-40 the rest of the way.
Photo by Arnav Pokhrel | Staff Photographer
Published on February 19, 2026 at 1:11 am