SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Last season was not the ideal year for Syracuse men’s basketball. The Orange won only seven out of 20 ACC games, which was the worst record since Syracuse University joined the conference in 2013.
But with a new season comes new expectations. And with this year’s SU team, everyone anticipates that this season will be different.
The Orange went out and got Georgia Tech transfer Nait George, who led the ACC in assists last year, and former Oregon State sharpshooter Nate Kingz was in the top 10 in three-point percentage a season ago, to go along with two top-50 freshmen recruits, Kiyan Anthony and Sadiq White.
The team’s performance matters beyond just wins and losses. Local businesses see changes in revenue depending on the team’s success, and community morale shifts with each game.
“This place is where I grew up at. I learned a lot. I raised my family here. So, I know how much this program means to the community and to my family. “
Adrian Autry
The Orange are led by head coach Adrian Autry. Autry played for SU from 1990 to 1994 and was the associate head coach for Syracuse from 2016 to 2023, both under former head coach Jim Boeheim. Now in his third year leading the Orange, Autry knows his team means a lot to the local community.
“This place is where I grew up. I learned a lot. I raised my family here. So, I know how much this program means to the community and to my family,” Autry said.
One of those places affected by the team’s performance is Varsity Pizza, a local pizzeria located on Marshall Street about a 15-minute walk from the JMA Wireless Dome. Edward Garno has been a waiter for just over four years at Varsity and believes the restaurant gets more business with more SU wins.
“[When the SU men’s basketball team wins], more people come in to buy pizza, wings and burgers,” Garno said.
Garno recognizes that a win makes the crowd happier and more inclined to celebrate by going out to eat.
The wins and losses don’t just impact the number of wings sold — the media coverage of the team changes as well.
CitrusTV is a student-run television station on the campus of Syracuse University. CitrusTV has three different sports shows that all highlight how Syracuse men’s basketball is performing this season. The station sends a beat reporter and photographer to each game, no matter if it’s a home or road game. The beat reporter and photographer work together to make a 90-second recap of what happened at the game, which is posted on social media accounts and featured on the shows.
Senior Adam Avin is the sports director at CitrusTV and oversees the entirety of the sports department. Avin says a good team is better and easier to cover.
“It’s way more fun to watch people talk about a team that is doing well. It really does help when the team is doing well, especially for our coverage,” Avin said.
The Orange went out and got Georgia Tech transfer Nait George, who led the ACC in assists last year, and former Oregon State sharpshooter Nate Kingz was in the top 10 in three-point percentage a season ago, to go along with two top 50 freshmen recruits, Kiyan Anthony and Sadiq White.
Syracuse tips off against Pace University tonight at 7 p.m. from the JMA Wireless Dome. This game for the Orange is the final exhibition of the season. SU’s first official game is a home game on Monday, Nov. 3, against Binghamton. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.