After back-to-back wins over Cal and SMU, Syracuse walked into Cameron Indoor feeling like maybe — just maybe — it had found something. But reality quickly set in, as SU lost 101–64 to No. 3 Duke. The worst defeat to the Blue Devils in program history. And honestly, it never felt competitive.
Despite the blowout, Adrian Autry tried to keep perspective afterward:
“We played against a top 3 team in the country… we didn’t play the way we needed to play. But we have four games to play. Four great opportunities. We will learn from this.”
But Monday night didn’t feel like a learning experience. It felt embarrassing.
Yes, Duke is elite. Yes, Syracuse was a heavy underdog. But losing by 37, in a game that was essentially decided by halftime, can’t just be brushed aside as “playing a top team.” The gap wasn’t just talent. It was rather intensity and execution.
And the tough part? “We’ll learn from this” has become a familiar line during the Autry era. It was said after the one-point loss to Hofstra. After the 20-point loss to UNC. After other games where Syracuse showed flashes but couldn’t finish.
At some point, the lessons have to turn into progress. There are four games left. Four chances to respond. But if Syracuse wants to be taken seriously again, moral takeaways aren’t enough.
With just 3 weeks left in the regular season, SU is almost entirely playing for the block “S” on their chest. That should be more than enough to put their best foot forward.
