Can Adrian Autry’s Bold Vision Finally Break Syracuse Orange’s Two-Decade Basketball Curse?

Syracuse basketball has hit a dry spell the likes of which fans haven’t seen in decades — four straight seasons absent from the NCAA Tournament, a stretch unseen since the days before Jim Boeheim took the reins back in the early ’70s. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a program steeped in tradition, boasting a national title and a resume rich with tournament appearances ever since Boeheim’s arrival in ’76. Now, with the twilight of Boeheim’s era giving way to Adrian Autry’s fledgling stewardship, the Orange find themselves at a crossroads. Autry, a man forged in the very heart of this program, isn’t settling for mediocrity — he’s aiming for wins and, yes, the elusive March Madness berth. But the reality is harsh: Syracuse is grappling to adapt in a college basketball landscape that’s evolved beyond its familiar grasp. While the roster sparkles with some promising talent — including the buzz around Kiyan Anthony, son of Carmelo — it’s clear that more than just a familiar name will be needed to ignite a return to form. As the season looms, the question hangs heavy: can Syracuse piece it all together and break the streak? LEARN MORE

The Syracuse men’s basketball team hasn’t been on a drought like this in a long, long time.

The Orange have missed the NCAA Tournament in four consecutive seasons.

The last time that happened was before Jim Boeheim was even the head coach, back in the early 1970s.

Now, it’s the last two years of Boeheim and the first two years of Adrian Autry that have ended without dancing.

Something’s gotta give for a program with one national championship and many more appearances in the NCAA Tournament than not since Boeheim’s hiring in 1976.

The Orange had their annual media day on Wednesday, and The Daily Orange’s Justin Girshon asked Autry if this season is tourney or bust.

Here’s what Autry replied:

“I look like that every year. I want to make the tournament every year. I’m not here just to be mediocre. That’s not why I’m here. This place is where I grew up at. I learned a lot. I raised a family here, so I know how much this program means to the community and my family. Every year, we want to compete. We don’t want to make it, but we want to compete and try to win it.”

Try to win it does seem like a step too far for the SU program at the moment.

The modern era of college basketball appears to have passed Syracuse by, and it can’t have helped to lose a Hall of Fame coach, either.

SU still has talent and could win a bunch of games this season, but the Orange will have to figure out how the pieces fit together.

Casual fans may be most excited to see what Carmelo’s son Kiyan Anthony can do, but this team will need a lot more than an Anthony to get back to the Big Dance.

MORE: Buddy Boeheim has a new NBA home