Regardless of who you blame, does anyone think Autry is a good coach?

[Brooky03]

NIL makes it hard to judge anything. Red hasn’t shown that he’s a good coach, but I’d argue he hasn’t shown he’s a bad coach either; he might be just mediocre right now.

His first season was never going to be a resounding success. We didn’t have the players and he didn’t have the time or resources to get the players. That’s a completely free pass. Also, weirdly, his best results. Maybe that’s a mark in his favor because it’s not like he inherited much talent on that team; he got out of that team what that team had to give.

Last season was a disaster. There was a mix of players he wanted and players he was stuck with because we don’t compete well financially (NIL) with a lot of other programs. Even with our lackluster NIL, he’s gotta do better than 14 wins, though. Perhaps a better talent evaluator would’ve landed better 3rd or 4th options, who knows. Money is money. I don’t recall us having the money to get studs and Red not landing those studs.

This year, he’s been missing the key piece of his team. Even so, we played Houston to the brink, were very much in the game against Kansas despite the final score, and played a bad half and good half against an obviously very very good, maybe great, Iowa State team. Beat Tenn, lost to Hofstra. That’s honestly not as bad as it’s being portrayed. The NIL guys we have are playing much better than what we saw last year, so there’s evidence he’s gotten better in that area. In-game coaching doesn’t seem like a plus for Red, but no coach is immune to that criticism. Fans love playing backseat coach, especially with the advantage of hindsight.

If Donnie Freeman ever comes back, I’ll judge Red more harshly for poor results.

 

[Charbroil]

If Donnie Freeman ever comes back, I’ll judge Red more harshly for poor results.

I think folks are putting too much stock in the Freeman injury. Several top teams have had key players missing games this season. Iowa State, Kansas, UConn to name a few. Kansas has actually arguably looked better with their top-3 pick out.

Freeman being out maybe is an excuse for not playing better against a top team in the Players Era. But it can’t be used as an excuse for the poor performance against St Joes or the loss to Hofstra, both of those games being at home.

 

[RF2044]

NIL makes it hard to judge anything. Red hasn’t shown that he’s a good coach, but I’d argue he hasn’t shown he’s a bad coach either; he might be just mediocre right now.

His first season was never going to be a resounding success. We didn’t have the players and he didn’t have the time or resources to get the players. That’s a completely free pass. Also, weirdly, his best results. Maybe that’s a mark in his favor because it’s not like he inherited much talent on that team; he got out of that team what that team had to give.

Last season was a disaster. There was a mix of players he wanted and players he was stuck with because we don’t compete well financially (NIL) with a lot of other programs. Even with our lackluster NIL, he’s gotta do better than 14 wins, though. Perhaps a better talent evaluator would’ve landed better 3rd or 4th options, who knows. Money is money. I don’t recall us having the money to get studs and Red not landing those studs.

This year, he’s been missing the key piece of his team. Even so, we played Houston to the brink, were very much in the game against Kansas despite the final score, and played a bad half and good half against an obviously very very good, maybe great, Iowa State team. Beat Tenn, lost to Hofstra. That’s honestly not as bad as it’s being portrayed. The NIL guys we have are playing much better than what we saw last year, so there’s evidence he’s gotten better in that area. In-game coaching doesn’t seem like a plus for Red, but no coach is immune to that criticism. Fans love playing backseat coach, especially with the advantage of hindsight.

If Donnie Freeman ever comes back, I’ll judge Red more harshly for poor results.

I think he has shown plenty.

Even if the roster isn't optmized -- like it wasn't his first two years -- you would still expect to see signs of good coaching.

• Effective systems on both sides of the ball
• Quality defensive play
• In game X's and O's
• Logical substitution patterns

None of that has been evident for going on three years.

Now, if we'd seen signs of Red demonstrating that he has the coaching chops, but weren't necessarily seeing the results because we didn't have the horses, I don't think people would be satisified necessarily, but I DO think they'd be more patient to give Red time to get system fits in place. I'm talking about competitive games, good offensive play, etc.

The reality is that there have been excuses / rationalization applied every year. Year 1, he inherited a roster, didn't have his guys in place, etc. Year 2, we didn't have sufficient NIL in place to go get good guys. Year 3, we DID have NIL to spend... but things are still wonky.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

 

[RedtheGOB]

I think folks are putting too much stock in the Freeman injury. Several top teams have had key players missing games this season. Iowa State, Kansas, UConn to name a few. Kansas has actually arguably looked better with their top-3 pick out.

Freeman being out maybe is an excuse for not playing better against a top team in the Players Era. But it can’t be used as an excuse for the poor performance against St Joes or the loss to Hofstra, both of those games being at home.

I agree. Alot of takes are "what if" we had that talent on the floor.

The real problem is that this Coach does not adapt to the situation of not having Donnie on the floor and the players are mentally not tough. So this day to day stuff just creates uncertainty and guys not knowing roles.

I put a lot of blame on Freeman as well. Pain threshold or re-aggravating things ok I get it, but if he wants to be a leader and best player on the team he can't just be a guy taking up space on the bench. He's not shown us anything.

 

[Brooky03]

I think folks are putting too much stock in the Freeman injury. Several top teams have had key players missing games this season. Iowa State, Kansas, UConn to name a few. Kansas has actually arguably looked better with their top-3 pick out.

Freeman being out maybe is an excuse for not playing better against a top team in the Players Era. But it can’t be used as an excuse for the poor performance against St Joes or the loss to Hofstra, both of those games being at home.

You used top 25 teams to make your point. We are not and were never expected to be a top 25 team with this roster. I think that’s slightly misleading. Like, UConn can win without their best player? No kidding. Iowa State clearly struck gold this year.

The St. Joe’s performance wasn’t great but it was a win. Teams of our caliber have those games with good coaches, so I put very little stock in that. Hofstra was a bad loss. It’s also probably a win with Donnie. Should we beat Hofstra without Donnie? Yes, of course. Should our 2013 team have lost to Temple? No. Should they have beaten Detroit Mercy by more than 4? Yeah, I think so.

With the roster almost completely turning over (with NIL that consists of pocket lint and some change we found in the couch, as far as I can tell), with where we were just last year, this season was always going to be a ‘let’s try to get to 22 or 23 wins and go dancing’ season. That’s still on the table. The ACC looks like it’s not as weak as some predicted.

 

[Brooky03]

At this level, especially with player development now removed from the sport, talent wins games; coaches just hope to help a bit. Getting talent is 90% of it.

If we can get a dude who excels at that and find a billionaire hiding in a closet somewhere, I’m all in.

 

[sufan59]

You used top 25 teams to make your point. We are not and were never expected to be a top 25 team with this roster. I think that’s slightly misleading.

The truth is that we should be expected to be a top 25 team with this roster. We weren’t expected to be because the coaching isn’t trusted. How much better could’ve this roster been constructed? Maybe if our second center was more capable offensively. Nearly every box was checked. I think Alex Kline and the staff did an amazing job putting it together.

 

[sufan59]

At this level, especially with player development now removed from the sport, talent wins games; coaches just hope to help.

Talent raises your ceiling which has been addressed, system and coaching wins games. When both sides have good systems and coaching, the talent wins out.

 

[Brooky03]

The truth is that we should be expected to be a top 25 team with this roster. We weren’t expected to be because the coaching isn’t trusted. How much better could’ve this roster been constructed? Maybe if our second center was more capable offensively. Nearly every box was checked. I think Alex Kline and the staff did an amazing job putting it together.

We missed the ‘shoot FTs better than a blind 4th grader’ box lol.

I like the talent we managed to assemble and had hopes for a good season, but top 25 wasn’t really in my mind until right after the Houston game. Too much roster turnover (which I understand is the new norm and really unavoidable with how bad the roster was) and too much depending on a single PG being very good.

 

[Cusefan0307]

We missed the ‘shoot FTs better than a blind 4th grader’ box lol.

I like the talent we managed to assemble and had hopes for a good season, but top 25 wasn’t really in my mind until right after the Houston game. Too much roster turnover (which I understand is the new norm and really unavoidable with how bad the roster was) and too much depending on a single PG being very good.

Everyone has roster turnover. Some of the transfers are playing worse here than their previous schools and that includes at the ft line. Our offensive system is non-existent and we don't know how to attack a zone.

Losing to Hofstra without Freeman is not an excuse.

 

[hoopsupstate]

I think many of us have forgotten what top ten talent looks like. We aren’t it!

 

[sufan59]

I think many of us have forgotten what top ten talent looks like. We aren’t it!

We forgot or the recruiting ranking services have? And that’s not to say we do have top ten talent. I would estimate it between 15-25. Still more than enough to have larger mov against Monmouth and St Joseph, as well as beating Hofstra between 8-16 points.

 

[Charbroil]

You used top 25 teams to make your point. We are not and were never expected to be a top 25 team with this roster. I think that’s slightly misleading. Like, UConn can win without their best player? No kidding. Iowa State clearly struck gold this year.

The St. Joe’s performance wasn’t great but it was a win. Teams of our caliber have those games with good coaches, so I put very little stock in that. Hofstra was a bad loss. It’s also probably a win with Donnie. Should we beat Hofstra without Donnie? Yes, of course. Should our 2013 team have lost to Temple? No. Should they have beaten Detroit Mercy by more than 4? Yeah, I think so.

With the roster almost completely turning over (with NIL that consists of pocket lint and some change we found in the couch, as far as I can tell), with where we were just last year, this season was always going to be a ‘let’s try to get to 22 or 23 wins and go dancing’ season. That’s still on the table. The ACC looks like it’s not as weak as some predicted.

Sure, those teams are better. But they’re also playing and competing against teams that are better competition than what Syracuse is going up against.

Kansas is giving Duke on a neutral court and a full-strength UConn team all they can handle. And the player they have out is much better than Freeman. Meanwhile, Cuse is struggling against significantly less impressive competition like St. Joe’s and Hofstra.

 

[Brooky03]

Sure, those teams are better. But they’re also playing and competing against teams that are better competition than what Syracuse is going up against.

Kansas is giving Duke on a neutral court and a full-strength UConn team all they can handle. And the player they have out is much better than Freeman. Meanwhile, Cuse is struggling against significantly less impressive competition like St. Joe’s and Hofstra.

Hofstra is the outlier. If we have another Hofstra performance, I’ll change my tune. 3 of the 4 good teams we’ve played we’ve played close.

Without our best player, Kansas was a 2 point game with 6 minutes left. We dug an early hole with a bad 5 minute stretch in the first half and were closed out by a bad 5 minute stretch to end the game. I won’t pretend we were on the brink of winning it, but it was a game that was always within striking distance and the vibe while watching it was that we were not outclassed.

If Kansas is playing great teams tight without their best player, I’d say our game against them shows we can play very good teams tight. Who knows, with Donnie maybe we win those.

I have a feeling my characterization of the Kansas game might not be how others saw it, but it was not a ‘cat toying with a mouse’ type game.

 

[Charbroil]

Hofstra is the outlier. If we have another Hofstra performance, I’ll change my tune. 3 of the 4 good teams we’ve played we’ve played close.

Without our best player, Kansas was a 2 point game with 6 minutes left. We dug an early hole with a bad 5 minute stretch in the first half and were closed out by a bad 5 minute stretch to end the game. I won’t pretend we were on the brink of winning it, but it was a game that was always within striking distance and the vibe while watching it was that we were not outclassed.

If Kansas is playing great teams tight without their best player, I’d say our game against them shows we can play very good teams tight. Who knows, with Donnie maybe we win those.

I have a feeling my characterization of the Kansas game might not be how others saw it, but it was not a ‘cat toying with a mouse’ type game.

Fair enough. I’d feel better about the Hofstra game if Syracuse hadn’t struggled against Monmouth and St. Joe’s as well.

I’m not ready to 100% write-off this season. But they really need to blowout their next 3 opponents (25+ point margins IMO) and then beat Clemson to give me a little sense of optimism heading into the New Year that they can turns things around and have their name called on selection Sunday.

 

[orangepassion]

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

My name is Scott Shafer and I approve this message

 

[RedtheGOB]

Fair enough. I’d feel better about the Hofstra game if Syracuse hadn’t struggled against Monmouth and St. Joe’s as well.

I’m not ready to 100% write-off this season. But they really need to blowout their next 3 opponents (25+ point margins IMO) and then beat Clemson to give me a little sense of optimism heading into the New Year that they can turns things around and have their name called on selection Sunday.

All true. I said way back in the “I hate this schedule” thread that I actually really liked the schedule.

At the time I really liked the set up and the teams we played home and away plus the order but I didn’t really think much of the layoffs, turnaround games and these 9PM games.

Obviously I’m grasping here but when have we sucked the worst. Short turnaround game against a team we were surprised to play in Iowa st. Then Monmouth and St Joes both at 9PM. And then worst of all Hofstra on a 2 day turnaround where again they just seemed to surprise us in the 2nd half and make us look to stupid with their zone.

We know the coaches and players lack mental focus and have low bball IQ especially offensively. They’re terrible when they slow down and have to think.

There’s a very very small chance that the players figure it out and just get into a routine in ACC play. Playing every 3-4 days rinse and repeat. The schedule will stabilize and we’ll be playing every Tues/Wed and Saturday . There are 2 more 9PM games at the dome with FSU and VT so who knows on those. Duke and UNC on the road Mondays which were prob never with our grasp.

For a team and staff that seems to play worse when they slow down and have too long to think maybe the best thing for them is to get in a rhythm. It’s a longshot but who knows.

 

[CardiacCuse]

This seems like a very unfair post... while Autry isn't making $5mm+ he is making enough money that he never has to worry about working again if he doesn't want to. Who in their right mind would voluntarily quit a job when they are making so much especially if they are on a contract that would allow them to force a buyout?

Also as a former high level athlete, I'm sure Autry thinks he is equal to his coaching counterparts and the team is just "this far" away from being really good. People like that aren't wired to think they aren't good enough, if they had doubts they would never have gotten there in the first place

It's up to the people above Autry to do what is best for the program... it's up to Autry to do what is best for himself.

ok but the non answers in press conferences dont really show that he is being honest and open about things

and when he was hired he was all about bringing the orange glory days back and making it how it used to be...which he decidedly hasnt

if he cared about the program, but couldnt revive it, wouldnt that mean he is in a pickle like i described?

not many walk away from guaranteed life changing money...and its hard to say anyone should but as fans we can call it what it is

im really on the fence whether he realizes how deficient he is...i suppose that if he realized that he isnt up to par, he wouldve hired different assistants this offseason and actually installed an offense or at least gotten an offensive coach on his staff...i guess that he hasnt changed a lot of the wacky things he has done since day 1 shows that maybe he actually thinks he is doing everything at the highest level...which is sad...bc hes not

hes never been a HC before and it shows...hes learning on the job and thats why they have midmajors and small schools...where he shouldve started off as a HC imo

 

[kingtidge]

There’s a very very small chance that the players figure it out and just get into a routine in ACC play. Playing every 3-4 days rinse and repeat. The schedule will stabilize and we’ll be playing every Tues/Wed and Saturday . There are 2 more 9PM games at the dome with FSU and VT so who knows on those. Duke and UNC on the road Mondays which were prob never with our grasp.

I think the problem is we're now at a point where opposing coaches have a confirmed bullet list on how to shut down our playground offense completely and, if the game is close, they'll put us on the line at game's end and let the brickfest sink us.

Not sure how we're going to handle the latter... and getting the offense schemed to effectively attack the zone?? You would like to think Autry and co. could pull that off, but even making basic adjustments seems to be very difficult for this staff, so I don't have much in the way of expectations.

 

[Briancuse]

I think folks are putting too much stock in the Freeman injury. Several top teams have had key players missing games this season. Iowa State, Kansas, UConn to name a few. Kansas has actually arguably looked better with their top-3 pick out.

Freeman being out maybe is an excuse for not playing better against a top team in the Players Era. But it can’t be used as an excuse for the poor performance against St Joes or the loss to Hofstra, both of those games being at home.

You can sell me on needing donnie to beat the 3 big 12 teams we played. We have more than enough talent to beat hofstra at home without him.

 

[Archbold44]

You can sell me on needing donnie to beat the 3 big 12 teams we played. We have more than enough talent to beat hofstra at home without him.

Is there anyone on the team other than Donnie that could be an NBA draft pick in 2026? Look at how different even our great Syracuse teams were when our best player was hurt or playing hurt. This season rises and falls on Donnie, unfortunately. And I think Red’s future is at least somewhat tied to Melo and family. If they said Kiyan and their financial support are leaving if Red stays or if Red goes (either way), then I think that will carry some influence. If Melo thinks Autry is a good coach enough to risk his son’s career on him… and just unlucky so far… maybe he is right. He might know more about hoops than some of us do. If he thinks Autry is in over his head, then Autry better start winning fast to change that perception…

 

[Fly Rodder]

After his first season, and all he said about what he wanted to do on defense and offense, to then double down and make JJ and Chris Bell be the focus of the team was just ... baffling to me. Like, how could anyone with basketball experience watch their defense and bad shots and be like ... yeah, I want MORE of that.

 

[tbonezone]

"Regardless of who you blame, does anyone think Autry is a good coach?"​

most likely not. jim boeheim always chose to surround himself with homegrown sycophants. all of his hand picked former players never amounted to much as HC'S. late great louie orr had a small modicum of success after leaving the cuse as a head coach. the rest are basically not fit or prepared for the job. former outside hires ralph willard and of course rick pitino figured out early the dude was an autocrat and best choice was to bolt. i don't see anybody on that bench who is going to turn this program around. and that includes little gerry over at sienna. BOT has to look outside the university and JB's sphere to find A WINNER.

 

[Oakland]

I wonder what people would be saying if we had made 3 more FTs and were 8-2 and ranked in the top 25. Remember everyone seemed happy with Red when we lost by 1 to Houston.

BTW, those 3 FTs would raise our season average from 56.7 all the way up to 58.9% Hard for me to blame Red for the FT % - it is very hard to change your form after you have been doing it for many years (ask Shaq or Wilt), and besides, our guys with good form are also missing. A sports psychologist may help. Maybe one shouldn't recruit iffy FT shooters.

I also think we would 8-2 if Donnie was playing.

Given that, without a big improvement when Donnie comes back I would expect this is Red's last season. I'm ready to move on.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

I

I wish hop was still running everything lol

Why? He has proven that with GREAT recruits, he can’t really sustain a winning program. And that was in the PAC 10