Inside Syracuse’s rough off-season: How portal misses and a lack of NIL money led to a lost year

[Blanko97]

What's that have to do with my point?

Look at Leffew's stat line the last 5 games

because Leffew would still be the best PG by far on the team, and potentially the best overall guard. Georgia is just that much better than Syracuse and Leffew is a part of that even if hes only playing 20 minutes a game.

 

[djcon57]

because Leffew would still be the best PG by far on the team, and potentially the best overall guard. Georgia is just that much better than Syracuse and Leffew is a part of that even if hes only playing 20 minutes a game.

I would hope he'd be better than the guards we have. Doesn't change the fact that Kadary's name coming back up as his team's in the top 10 isn't a coincidence.

 

[kingtidge]

Thanks for clarifying. In retrospect I agree. Just wanted to stress that hte narrative that the only candidates that got any consideration were the internal one (or two possibly) isn't necessarily the way things transpired.

I dunno that retrospect had anything to do with it.

I mean, I was resigned to the fact that it was always going to be an internal hire (and not the best candidate.) That part was crystal clear.

That said, the fact that we appear unprepared/unable to pull the plug on it after year 2 is mind boggling, given what a crapshoot internal hires with no HC experience tend to be.

This situation was not a low probability outcome at all.

 

[Blanko97]

I would hope he'd be better than the guards we have. Doesn't change the fact that Kadary's name coming back up as his team's in the top 10 isn't a coincidence.

oh, I guess I thought you were comparing them. I agree its not a coincidence but his name has been thrown around pretty consistently since he left.

 

[CuseMan4]

Personally I think this article is hilarious. Basically outlines Red’s job and how he wasn’t prepared to do his job lmao. Can’t coach on the court, no feel for the game, not prepared off the court. So like is there anything Red can do other than recruit? Legitimate question. I don’t think there’s much more Wildhack could see. You can go back and look at my messages from last season. You could tell Red wasn’t cut out for the job pretty early on. He had no feel for the game, his substitutions were terrible all last season, you could tell the players did not respect him, and Red’s body language is horrendous for a head coach. Only difference was last years roster was more talented than this years. Which is crazy cause we didn’t even sniff the NCAAs last year. We really need a fresh start

 

[kcsu]

As to resources Bball has what 10 players max that need to be coached and managed. Football has easily 50 that make up the majority of minutes played and 105 in total. Do the math.

 

[rrlbees]

That’s great, so the University is part of the NIL, just not writing the check. We all know that, but to keep saying that Syracuse has nothing to do with paying athletes is a little misleading.

Like I told fly, I’m only talking about where the dollars come from. Fans, donors, supporters etc.

 

[rrlbees]

So what happened between last summer and now? We've been assured by several people that we have the money to compete now. That we'll be able to land all but the most-highly compensated players.

Why did we strike out with NIL fundraising from March 2023 through this fall? What changed?

I doubled my donation.

 

[AcAndAc]

What's that have to do with my point?

Look at Leffew's stat line the last 5 games

What would Leffew's stats look like if Georgia played Syracuse's weaker schedule? I think that is the point. The SEC is a much better conference this year.

 

[richmondcuse03]

From what I have read and heard, Syracuse was no where ready for the portal last year, obviously whiffed on some kids who they thought they were going to get, including Richmond. They are using not being ready for the portal as this years excuse as well as not having the $$ needed to get players. They settled on the players who are here now. Going forward I believe, with no proof, that they will have the needed cash this year and they have a full time GM who's main mission is to be ready for the portal this year. Mr Autry, you are on the clock!!

That's precisely the case. There's no excuses next year. Right or wrong, lots of people failed last year.

I've been clear that I don't think Red is a good enough on court coach but we will truly see next year.

 

[AcAndAc]

As to resources Bball has what 10 players max that need to be coached and managed. Football has easily 50 that make up the majority of minutes played and 105 in total. Do the math.

None of this matters, really. As important as wins are, there is also the appearance that (a) the players are trying when they are on the field/court; (b) the coaches are going to put the players in the best position more often than not; and (c) the coach seems to dislike losing as much as the fans do.

 

[ar inj]

Autry has failed to demonstrate that he can coach at this level.

Autry has demonstrated that he was not prepared for the NIL game.

Autry still does not understand the NIL game and the need for him to be part of the fundraising process and his refusal to participate.

Three failing grades.

And Wildhack is overrated. He is lucky Fran Brown gave him a call.

 

[richmondcuse03]

I believe that the program will improve significantly next year.
Melo, NIL, Kline. Three solid reasons for improvement.
The part that none of us are confident in is our coaching staff.
Will Red make changes?
Will he look in the mirror and change his approach?
Does he have the chops to lead a program. The basketball IQ to improve his players, put them in position to succeed, and out coach the opponents? Or, is he simply a good recruiter. A good relationship type coach?
I personally don't think Red has the demeanor, and or basketball IQ to coach players up. To out scheme the opponent. His lack of in game awareness and ability to properly substitute is something that by this time in his coaching career is either there or it isn't.
Red will get next year and we will improve but he is out over his and is too old of a coach to learn.
The school might give him year 4 because of the improvement that will occur next season and because they are cheap.
I can see a JW , Dino like ultimatum prior to year four.
Make the tournament or you are gone. Personally if the team has a decent year next season I 100% believe that is exactly what is going to happen.

the ultimatum is next year IMO. He needs a substantial improvement next year or he's gone.

 

[CuseMan4]

Respectfully, if you are John Wildhack. This is Syracuse basketball. Yes, we havent been up to par the last 10 years or so. But we are a big time program, rich history, you play in the dome, with a huge fan base, have natty, have some of the most draft pics of any basketball program, some of the most final fours and sweet 16s and we are in Red’s second year asking ourselves if we are going to MAKE THE ACC TOURNEY….the ACC TOURNEY. Players have regressed, team was constructed horribly, not gonna even come close to a winning season for the second time in 50 years but is by far the worst season this year, on the last 50. What else do Wildhack or the chancellor need to see? You are legit losing more money by keeping Red than probably retaining him

 

[djcon57]

What would Leffew's stats look like if Georgia played Syracuse's weaker schedule? I think that is the point. The SEC is a much better conference this year.

Would you agree that Leffew doesn't make this team a tourney team?

...and "the point" is what I brought up. Leffew's name would be at the top of the article if it were being more based in reality. Kadary was never coming back to Syracuse

 

[kingtidge]

Respectfully, if you are John Wildhack. This is Syracuse basketball. Yes, we havent been up to par the last 10 years or so. But we are a big time program, rich history, you play in the dome, with a huge fan base, have natty, have some of the most draft pics of any basketball program, some of the most final fours and sweet 16s and we are in Red’s second year asking ourselves if we are going to MAKE THE ACC TOURNEY….the ACC TOURNEY. Players have regressed, team was constructed horribly, not gonna even come close to a winning season for the second time in 50 years but is by far the worst season this year, on the last 50. What else do Wildhack or the chancellor need to see? You are legit losing more money by keeping Red than probably retaining him

Season ticket renewals cratering will get their attention.

Home gameday actual attendance and concessions drops are one thing, but if that is coupled with prepaid season tix dropping significantly, the revenue math is likely very bleak and not sustainable.

 

[phil77]

Under Red

STAT according to ESPN

OFFENSE
2023-24 - We scored 76.3 PPG 99th in NCAA
2024-25 - We scored 74.7 PPG 161st in NCAA

DEFENSE
2023-24 - We allow 75.6 PPG 285th in NCAA
2024-25 - We allow 78.6 PPG 332nd in NCAA only 32 spots from being the worst defense team in all of college basketball let that sink in !!!!!

Those are just our raw counting stats other stats are worse. Again what does RED do well from a coaching stand point that says he deserves another year? Like tell me something to be excited about? You guys keep talking about off the court this and off the court that, are you guys not watching on the court? There are teams that have way way less NIL than us that are way better than us on both ends of the court why is that?

 

[richmondcuse03]

For what it's worth, reading this story, I do NOT think this is spin from the university. This is just a brutal evaluation that was informed by people in and around the program. Money was a part of the issue but clearly not the biggest. They could have gotten some of these other choices and still been terrible. They weren't prepared. They had no idea for the type of guys they wanted. And the ones they got, they whiffed on. That falls on Red. He gets one more chance to fix this. He knew he needed a GM and got Alex.

A huge part of Alex's role centers on the portal. They've already done the work -- we'll see how they do. If it's not fixed next year, he's gone. I think it's tourney or bust next year.

 

[AcAndAc]

Would you agree that Leffew doesn't make this team a tourney team?

Sure. But who is to say that we do not win 4 more games and are sitting at, say, 8-8 in conference and 16-12 overall. If we had beaten Georgetown, Pitt (H), Notre Dame (A), and Miami (A), we would be looking much better in this whole process. As tough as treading water is... it's better than sinking.

 

[cusefan88]

For what it's worth, reading this story, I do NOT think this is spin from the university. This is just a brutal evaluation that was informed by people in and around the program. Money was a part of the issue but clearly not the biggest. They could have gotten some of these other choices and still been terrible. They weren't prepared. They had no idea for the type of guys they wanted. And the ones they got, they whiffed on. That falls on Red. He gets one more chance to fix this. He knew he needed a GM and got Alex.

A huge part of Alex's role centers on the portal. They've already done the work -- we'll see how they do. If it's not fixed next year, he's gone. I think it's tourney or bust next year.

Mike Waters has kept his powder pretty dry so far this year. While this is "damning" on certain levels it's a fair article and portrayal of things.

Points to the obvious lack of NIL offerings but at the same time says hey, this staff wasn't even close to ready.

 

[kingtidge]

Sure. But who is to say that we do not win 4 more games and are sitting at, say, 8-8 in conference and 16-12 overall. If we had beaten Georgetown, Pitt (H), Notre Dame (A), and Miami (A), we would be looking much better in this whole process. As tough as treading water is... it's better than sinking.

IMO, the sooner this debacle is over with, the better.

We need a new HC and complete rebuild.

Let's just get on with it.

 

[Red2003]

Under Red

STAT according to ESPN

OFFENSE
2023-24 - We scored 76.3 PPG 99th in NCAA
2024-25 - We scored 74.7 PPG 161st in NCAA

DEFENSE
2023-24 - We allow 75.6 PPG 285th in NCAA
2024-25 - We allow 78.6 PPG 332nd in NCAA only 32 spots from being the worst defense team in all of college basketball let that sink in !!!!!

Those are just our raw counting stats other stats are worse. Again what does RED do well from a coaching stand point that says he deserves another year? Like tell me something to be excited about? You guys keep talking about off the court this and off the court that, are you guys not watching on the court? There are teams that have way way less NIL than us that are way better than us on both ends of the court why is that?

He doesn't need a buyout and the megadonors are willing to give him one more year with the Anthony family's support. Who says they're excited about it or making decisions based on ESPN analytics, they're willing to live with it a year. If people made decisions every year based on analytics we would be cleaning house every other year.

We would've had 18 football coaches in 20 years with this type of hyperbole ha

 

[pearl31]

I've been clear that I don't think Red is a good enough on court coach but we will truly see next year.

Agreed.
I think the only hope would be if he were to somehow bring in an Xs/Os guru of an assistant (pref two - one for O and one for D) to help him rapidly learn on the job.
I do wonder what it might look like around here a year from now if we're clearly improved but are, say, a bubble team.

 

[phil77]

He doesn't need a buyout and the megadonors are willing to give him one more year with the Anthony family's support. Who says they're excited about it or making decisions based on ESPN analytics, they're willing to live with it a year. If people made decisions every year based on analytics we would be cleaning house every other year.

We would've had 18 football coaches in 20 years with this type of hyperbole ha

Again nothing about the coaching only off-the-court stuff and back to the myth that the Anthonys would leave if Red is fired. Melo loves Syracuse and came for Syracuse not for Red.

 

[phil77]

Agreed.
I think the only hope would be if he were to somehow bring in an Xs/Os guru of an assistant (pref two - one for O and one for D) to help him rapidly learn on the job.
I do wonder what it might look like around here a year from now if we're clearly improved but are, say, a bubble team.

Then of course we will be sold another year and it wasn't really tournament or bust. It will be look at the improvement the program is on the upswing can't let go of him now etc etc etc etc we all know what is going to happen.