Syracuse basketball earned a 75-57 win over D2 opponent Pace University in its last exhibition game before the regular season.
The final score doesn’t tell the full story of this game. Up until a decisive 16-0 run midway through the second half, Syracuse basketball was trading baskets with Pace in what was a much tighter contest than expected. The Orange struggled early, plagued by cold shooting in the first half and stretches of low defensive energy that kept Pace within striking distance. Head coach Adrian Autry didn’t shy away from criticism afterward, opening his postgame remarks by saying, “I was very disappointed with our effort.”
Still, there were encouraging signs, particularly from Syracuse’s younger players, who brought energy, athleticism, and flashes of potential that suggest this team’s ceiling could rise quickly once everything starts to click.
Freshman forward Sadiq White Jr. impressed in his first game for Syracuse. White Jr., ranked 28th in his class by ESPN, missed the first exhibition game with an upper-body injury. On Wednesday, he showed exactly why he earned that ranking. The Charlotte native displayed his athleticism on both ends of the floor. Defensively, White Jr. was everywhere, tallying three blocks. The 6’9″ forward’s combination of size, length, and explosiveness clearly proved why he’ll be one of the most dynamic athletes on the court every game this season.
Offensively, White Jr. stood out, putting together a 14-point performance, the second-highest total for Syracuse in the game. His first eight points came on dunks, mostly off the pick-and-roll, before he showed his shooting touch by knocking down two catch-and-shoot threes. If this freshman continues performing like this, Syracuse basketball may have found a serious two-way force.
It was the other freshman, Kiyan Anthony, who stood out as another bright spot for Syracuse basketball. Anthony, the son of Orange legend and NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony, proved that his 10-point showing in the first exhibition against Buffalo was no fluke. On his very first possession after checking in, the four-star guard confidently stepped into a deep three-pointer and knocked it down. Kiyan finished with nine points on the night, though four missed free throws left some points on the table. He also spent time running the point in a lineup alongside J.J. Starling.
“I have experience playing the one throughout high school. Obviously, college is a different level, but I’m willing to do whatever [Coach Adrian Autry] wants me to do,” said Anthony.
The 6’5″ guard has now shown twice that he can be a versatile and reliable offensive contributor for Syracuse.
Leading the way for Syracuse basketball was sophomore forward Donnie Freeman. Last year, Freeman’s season was cut short by a right foot injury, but in the 14 games he played, he averaged 13.4 points. The 6’9” forward was ranked sixth in his class by ESPN and was the highest-ranked Syracuse commit since Carmelo Anthony.
In Wednesday’s contest, Freeman led the Orange with 22 points, showing relentless aggression on the offensive glass. He also added nine rebounds.
“I had a mindset that I wanted to come in, be aggressive early, and look for my shots,” said Freeman.
Last season, it was guard J.J. Starling who paced Syracuse in scoring, but this year, that role may belong to Freeman, who looks ready to take over.
Syracuse basketball officially tips off its regular season next Monday in the JMA Wireless Dome against Binghamton. The Orange will look to clean up some of the inconsistencies from their exhibition games, especially their slow first-half starts. If they can come out with more energy and sharper execution early, Syracuse should be in good position to open the season with a convincing win.