Syracuse Basketball Struggles Draw Frustration from Carmelo Anthony
It seems Syracuse basketball is experiencing a tough time, and Carmelo Anthony, the player who once brought the program to its peak, is expressing his disappointment.
The former star, who led Syracuse to a national championship in 2003 during his sole college season, didn’t hold back after the Orange’s recent loss to North Carolina, where they fell 87-77. This defeat marked their fifth in six games, a trend that’s concerning.
“SMFH,” Anthony commented on game highlights shared on the team’s official Instagram, particularly during a tough first half where Syracuse was behind 46-32. His son, Kiyan, is a freshman on the team, adding a personal stake to his feelings.
After this latest setback, the Orange sit at 13-10 overall and 4-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), placing them 16th out of 18 teams.
Performance-wise, things aren’t looking good. Syracuse ranks near the bottom of the conference in scoring (14th), three-point shooting (16th), assists (14th), and rebounding (15th). Even in free throw percentage, they’re last among Division I teams, shooting a mere 63.3 percent.
This is hard to watch for any Syracuse supporter, but it must be particularly painful for someone like Anthony who remains heavily involved in the program.
Notably, he has been a regular at home games and has also significantly contributed to the development of the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center, a modern facility for both men’s and women’s teams.
Kiyan, who committed to Syracuse in 2024, came in with high expectations but has faced challenges, as indicated by his rather average performance recently—10 points on 3-of-10 shooting during practice.
After the loss, head coach Adrian Autry emphasized the need for improvement. With tough upcoming games against ranked teams like No. 18 Virginia and No. 4 Duke, the clock is ticking.
“We have to be more consistent,” Autry said, reflecting on what’s necessary for the team’s progression. “This is part of the journey, and we need more games to grow.”
Syracuse is set to face Virginia on February 7 in Charlottesville, a critical moment for the team.
