Writer archives: Justin Girshon
Contact Justin: justingirshon@gmail.com | @JustinGirshon
Observations from SU’s win vs. Mercyhurst: Starling’s 15, best FT performance
Syracuse shot a season-best 75% from the free-throw line in its 76-62 win at home over Mercyhurst. Read More »
Should J.J. Starling be more aggressive offensively?
J.J. Starling’s shot attempts per game have diminished from 16.0 last season to 9.5 thus far into the 2025-26 season. Our beat writer dives into whether Starling should be more aggressive offensively. Read More »
Syracuse to retire Rudy Hackett, Jim Lee’s numbers in February
Rudy Hackett and Jim Lee, who both reached the Final Four with SU in 1975, will have their jerseys retired at halftime of Syracuse's matchup with UNC on Feb. 21. Read More »
Syracuse’s 70-69 upset loss to Hofstra was ‘unacceptable’
Syracuse’s 70-69 upset loss to Hofstra was indefensible as it tries to snap its longest NCAA Tournament drought in over five decades. Read More »
Syracuse comeback falls short in 70-69 upset loss to Hofstra
The Orange went on a 9-0 run in the final five minutes and took the lead with 56 seconds remaining but couldn’t hold on for the victory Read More »
What to know about Syracuse's nonconference clash with Hofstra
Syracuse will look for its third straight win when it hosts Hofstra in the JMA Wireless Dome Saturday afternoon. The Pride have one of the best offensive players in the country in Cruz Davis. Read More »
Tyler Betsey, Nate Kingz shine vs. St. Joe’s: ‘They're big time for us’
“We're just shot makers, and today we made shots.” Tyler Betsey and Nate Kingz combined for 30 of Syracuse’s 71 points in its eight-point win over Saint Joseph’s on Thursday. Read More »
Observations from SU’s win vs. Saint Joseph’s: No ‘kill’ shots, season-low 3s
Syracuse shot a season-low 14 3-pointers, but prevailed down the stretch to defeat Saint Joseph’s 71-63. Our beat writer has more observations from the Orange’s second straight win. Read More »
‘Freak athlete’: William Kyle III isn’t your typical center
William Kyle III’s blend of athleticism, knack for doing the little things and undersized stature make him unlike a typical center. Read More »
Syracuse is one of D1’s worst free-throw shooting teams. A sports psychologist weighs in.
Syracuse men’s basketball’s 57.3% free-throw percentage is the third-worst among 365 Division I programs. Our beat writer spoke with Dr. Mark P. Otten, a sports psychologist who weighed in on the Orange’s struggles from the charity stripe. Read More »
Donnie Freeman ruled out for Syracuse’s matchup vs. No. 17 Tennessee
Donnie Freeman has been ruled out for Syracuse’s matchup vs. No. 17 Tennessee, an SU spokesperson told The Daily Orange. Freeman missed all three of the Orange’s losses in the Players Era Festival with a lower-body injury. Read More »
Girshon: Syracuse’s 0-3 Vegas run was a crucial missed opportunity
SU lost three Quad 1 games in the Players Era Festival. Our beat writer argues the Orange’s winless trip was a crucial missed opportunity. Read More »
Observations from Syracuse’s loss to No. 15 ISU: 2nd-half meltdown, poor scoring
Syracuse was crushed 95-64 by No. 15 Iowa State in its final Players Era Festival game in Las Vegas for its largest defeat since 2023. Read More »
Previewing Syracuse’s final Players Era Festival game vs. No. 15 Iowa State
After a late-night scheduling announcement, Syracuse will face No. 15 Iowa State at 1 p.m. EST in the Players Era Festival consolation round. Here’s a preview of Syracuse’s final game in Las Vegas. Read More »
Meet the ‘Cuse Dudes’: Syracuse’s 4 viral fans at the Players Era Festival
Meet Elliot Keller, Tate Thompson, Jake Kurtz and Nate Kurtz, the four guys who have gone viral for decking themselves out in SU uniforms at the Players Era Festival. Read More »
When Syracuse needed a star, Kansas quieted J.J. Starling
With Donnie Freeman still sidelined, Syracuse needed someone to carry the scoring load and avoid a second straight loss Tuesday. But Kansas held top scoring threat J.J. Starling to 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting, leading to SU’s loss. Read More »
Observations from Syracuse’s loss vs. Kansas: Late collapse, offense struggles
Syracuse cut Kansas’ once 13-point lead to two in the second half, but it couldn’t complete the comeback, falling 71-60. More observations from the Orange’s second loss of the Players Era Festival. Read More »
Golden opportunity slips in SU’s loss to No. 3 Houston: ‘No moral victories’
Syracuse let a golden opportunity slip away in its 78-74 overtime loss to No. 3 Houston, wasting a chance to beat a top-ranked team. Read More »
Syracuse loses 1st game, falls 78-74 in OT to No. 3 Houston in Vegas
In Syracuse’s first game of the Players Era Festival, it narrowly dropped its first game of the season to No. 3 Houston, 78-74 in overtime. SU clawed back with an 11-0 run at the end of the first but couldn’t pull out the win. Read More »
Girshon: Players Era presents perfect time for Syracuse to reintroduce itself
By traveling to Las Vegas and playing in the Players Era Festival, Syracuse will likely play three Quad 1 games this week. Our beat writer argues it’s the perfect time for the Orange to show the college basketball world they’re back. Read More »
Previewing Syracuse’s Players Era Festival matchup vs. No. 3 Houston
Syracuse begins the Players Era Festival by facing No. 3 Houston Monday. Here's everything to know about the Cougars, who are coming off a national championship appearance last season. Read More »
Syracuse’s rebuild blueprint — and quest to rejoin college basketball elite
SU men’s basketball rebuilt its roster this offseason. Our beat writer dives into the Orange’s quest to rejoin college basketball’s elite. Read More »
Adrian Autry starred with Brian Reese in NYC. 4 decades later, they meet again.
After playing in New York City growing up, Syracuse head coach Adrian Autry and Monmouth assistant coach Brian Reese will meet for the first time as coaches in the two schools' matchup Tuesday. Read More »
William Kyle III is undersized. He punishes opposing teams doing the little things.
As an undersized center, William Kyle III knows his role is to do the little things. It was ever-so apparent in Syracuse’s win over Drexel. Read More »