I think we have to start this off by stating the obvious. Last night’s 86-79 win over number seven North Carolina does not put Syracuse anywhere close to making the NCAA tournament. Entering the game, the Orange were on the outskirts of the bubble. Not the main bubble, but the NIT bubble. Hopefully, that’s a reminder of how bad things were the past couple of weeks. The win over the Tar Heels feels great right now but it means nothing for this season. UNC has lost three of its last five games including to the worst team in the ACC, Georgia Tech. The win is impressive but it doesn’t mean anything for this year. All it does is place the ‘Cuse into the NIT field. A miracle would still have to be pulled off to make it to the real bubble.
All of that doesn’t mean that last night’s win is something to forget though. In a season that’s been so rough at times, Adrian Autry and this team needed a big win to remember. Some expectations were way to high entering this season. The Orange hadn’t made the tournament in the last two years and lost more than they gained in the offseason. This year’s focus should have always been on building a new culture under Adrian Autry and figuring out what needs to be done in the future. Hoping for anything more in the first year without a Hall of Fame coach was just too optimistic.
The win against North Carolina gives hope for the future. After the blowout that was the first game against the Tar Heels, the Orange could have just sat down and given up. But they didn’t. JJ Starling showed that he can be the guy in the future who can lead this team. You can assume that almost everyone will be back this year. Maybe a few transfers out or Judah enters the draft, but it’ll be the same core. That core showed it can beat a top-10 team. It showed it can do something that hasn’t been done in over five years.
It also means something in the recruiting world. Donnie Freeman is a future star coming to Syracuse next year. He continues to rise through the rankings and is even a top 10 prospect according to On3. Elijah Moore is ranked 53rd in the country by both 247Sports and Rivals. On3 has four 2025 players favored to come to SU right now. The win last night shows recruits that Syracuse can be a team that competes for titles and that Adrian Autry can win these big games. It may not mean anything for this year but it means something for the future.
