The criticism of Adrian Autry is no longer just coming from fans, columnists or Carmelo.
Now it’s coming from inside a player’s family.
After Syracuse’s blowout loss to Duke, a caller named “Wayne,” saying he was JJ Starling’s uncle, called into the WAER postgame show “Double Overtime” with hosts Adam Hipsky and Jish Sokolsky and delivered an unfiltered assessment.
“I’ll be honest with you… Coach Autry don’t have it.”
Wayne questioned Autry’s ability to motivate JJ, saying, “When he do get hot, he sits on the bench. That’s not a way to play a starter like him. You got to build his confidence.” He added, “He don’t know how to motivate the kid… he’s really ruining his chance.” It’s certainly plausible it was Starling’s family member since JJ is from Baldwinsville.
But Wayne didn’t stop at rotations or confidence. He went after fundamentals.
“It starts at home with teaching the players. They have no big man to teach the big man game. They have no shooter like McNamara… somebody who know how to shoot the ball correct.”
The public heat is intensifying on Autry. First, Carmelo Anthony seemed to take a swipe at coaching. Now it’s one of the current players’ families.
“You need a coach like Rick Pitino,” he continued. “You need a coach that know basketball, what they want out of their players. So (Autry) wouldn’t accept the NIT when he had opportunity to go his first year there in Philadelphia. Syracuse’s best players… are coming from New York City, Philadelphia, New Jersey. You just don’t see him knowing that.”
That’s not just frustration. You have to wonder if that type of criticism is shared by the players.
He also questioned defensive identity and effort.
“Get back and help them set up a defense, pressure the ball… show that we want to win a game. You see Houston — they stand up and fight like a devil. You got to want to win every time you hit that floor.”
In other words, Wayne isn’t just saying Autry mishandled one player. He’s saying the program lacks teaching, structure, and urgency.
That escalates things.
When asked why JJ has stayed if coaching has been such an issue, Wayne pointed out that Starling has been connected to Syracuse since recruitment, long before Autry took over — suggesting loyalty to the school, not necessarily the current regime.
Family members can be emotional. Losses amplify everything. Public radio isn’t a locker room.
But perception matters.
Fans have questioned rotations. Media has questioned identity. The record reflects decline. Now a close family member is publicly questioning motivation, teaching, and fundamentals.
Programs that feel stable don’t usually have this kind of criticism coming from within a player’s circle.
It doesn’t guarantee anything changes. It doesn’t prove players share the sentiment.
But it does underscore something unmistakable:
This isn’t just outside noise anymore.
It’s internal doubt spilling into public view — and that’s when coaching tenures tend to reach their breaking point.
