Syracuse players, coaches discuss offseason preparation at Media Day
At its preseason Media Day Wednesday, SU men’s basketball players and coaches discussed the team’s offseason work, like focusing on playing fast and adding muscle. Leonardo Eriman | Photo Editor
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Last March, Syracuse men’s basketball entered its offseason in desperate need of a revival. With a 20-point loss to SMU in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, SU officially sealed its worst season in over 50 years.
Head coach Adrian Autry knew the ensuing seven months would be crucial in determining the program’s next step. Something needed to change.
“We weren’t happy with last year. There wasn’t no celebrating or anything,” SU Director of Operations Peter Corasaniti said. “It was put your head down and work and just try to get better collectively.”
Autry spearheaded that movement, Corasaniti said. Through intense training, including Autry’s emphasis on transition offense, SU’s players and coaches believe the Orange are prepared to return to March Madness for the first time since 2021.
“This group has really put the work in this summer. They responded,” Autry said in his season-opening press conference Wednesday. “So we’re looking forward to the season.”
Before the summer even began, Autry made waves on the recruiting trail. Instead of plucking transfers from mid-major conferences, a strategy he unsuccessfully employed last offseason, Autry snagged top players from Power Five schools.
The new approach resulted in the addition of six transfers to his five-player freshman class. The group was headlined by first years Kiyan Anthony and Sadiq White alongside ACC assists leader Naithan George.
The 11 newcomers — who joined returners Donnie Freeman and J.J. Starling — started training for the season early this summer, with freshman Aaron Womack saying he got to Syracuse in July.
Their preparation began in the weight room. Oregon State transfer Nate Kingz and Montana State transfer Bryce Zephir both said strength and conditioning coach Robert Harris took the lead. Zephir said Harris helped improve his mobility, while Kingz added he introduced conditioning exercises over short and long distances.
That translates to Autry’s desire to play fast. He hammered the message home last year, namely after the Orange’s narrow win over Colgate last November, but SU never truly adapted.
On Wednesday, Syracuse’s players said Autry has doubled down on that. The coach constantly emphasized how playing with pace and making plays in transition will make the offense flow, allowing SU to rebound from last season.
“That’s all we hear every day when it comes to offense. We don’t want to play slow,” Zephir said. “So we feel like our athleticism, speed, length helps us out on the floor.”
The addition of George as a true No. 1 point guard has helped that style. Kingz said George always moves up the floor quickly. Cincinnati transfer Tyler Betsey — who played against George with the Bearcats and at the EYBL Peach Jam in 2023 — said he’s also become a more aggressive shooter, as opposed to his previous pass-first tendencies.
Harris has also helped players improve their physicality. Autry said the early portion of the summer was dedicated to bolstering everyone’s strength.
UCLA transfer William Kyle III, now in his fourth year of college basketball, called this the best offseason of his career. Zephir, who spent time at four different schools before transferring to Syracuse, credited that to the coaching staff’s attention to detail and heightened expectations.
The work has produced results. Kyle said he cut body fat and added about 2.5 pounds of lean mass to his 6-foot-9 frame, while Womack put on 10-15 pounds of muscle to boost his weight to 170 pounds. Kyle mentioned he’s seen the same development in the rest of the freshman class.
Outside of basketball, Syracuse has made some important strides, too.
Betsey said he’s formed a particularly special relationship with Syracuse assistant coach Allen Griffin. When Betsey makes mistakes in practice, Griffin has encouraged him, emphasizing that they are normal. They shouldn’t deter him from continuing to be aggressive and taking shots when he’s open.
More importantly, Griffin has become an outlet for Betsey. The coach often calls him to ask how he’s doing, forging a bond that will be important in game action.
“Just having a guy who cares about me beyond basketball just makes me want to play that much harder for him,” Betsey said.
Despite all the progress made off the court, Kyle said the one thing SU needs to fine-tune is its communication. However, he believes White — as a freshman — is helping push it in the right direction. White has been vocal to begin his time with the Orange, which Zephir added makes everyone want to follow his lead.
“It’s just amazing how he can be that vocal for a freshman and just have that confidence,” Kyle said of White. “It’s definitely going to take him a long way in his career.”
Syracuse completely overhauled its roster this offseason. With the extreme dedication in practices, film sessions and even one-on-one chats, many see a positive difference relative to their former programs.
Nothing has been proven in a game yet, though. That will have to wait another few weeks. For now, Autry and Co. have done all they can to push the Orange back to national prominence.
“We had a great plan for the offseason, and we feel very comfortable and confident that we executed it,” Corasaniti said. “Now we’ve got to go do it on the court.”
