After a pair of exhibition wins, Syracuse men’s basketball’s new-look squad opens its 2024 campaign at home Monday against Le Moyne.
In his second season as head coach and first full year on the recruiting trail, Adrian Autry filled the gaps left by Judah Mintz, Maliq Brown, and Quadir Copeland with seven new players.
Among the newcomers are three freshmen, including standout five-star forward Donnie Freeman. The Washington D.C. native is the highest-ranked recruit for Syracuse since 2003, when Carmelo Anthony arrived at SU and led the Orange to their only national title. Although Autry isn’t comparing Freeman to a future Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, he has high expectations for him this season.
“Donnie can impact the game on both ends of the floor,” said Autry. “We need a lot from him at that position. My bar is very high for him, and he knows that.”
The Selection Committee also holds Freeman to a high standard. The projected first-round pick in next year’s NBA Draft was named to the Karl Malone Award Watch List. Freeman averaged nearly 15 points per game in two preseason appearances.
Another new player, former Colorado center Eddie Lampkin, was also named to a preseason award watch list. The graduate student was highlighted as a potential Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award winner, given to the best big man in college basketball.
“He can initiate our offense and he takes pressure off our guards,” Autry said about Lampkin. “He’s a great passer. He can score the ball in the right situations.”
Lampkin has already shown improvement in stretching the floor. In four collegiate seasons, the former four-star recruit had never made a three-pointer but sank one during Syracuse’s blowout win over Slippery Rock.
Let it fly Eddie 👌 pic.twitter.com/ZytecHpddS
— Syracuse Men’s Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) October 31, 2024
The Orange laced 15 threes in that contest on 50 percent efficiency, which Autry claims reflects his unit’s offensive skill set.
“This is a very, very good three-point shooting team,” said Autry.
If that trend continues throughout the regular season, it would be a massive leap for Syracuse, who finished near the bottom of the Atlantic Coast Conference in three-point percentage last year. However, Autry acknowledges that there are still areas needing improvement for the team to compete for a tournament spot.
“We need to play better defense and rebound,” Autry said.
Rebounding was a challenge for Syracuse last season, finishing 300th nationally in boards per game. The Orange did outperform both exhibition opponents on the glass this past week.
The most significant stride SU has made entering November is its ball movement. The Orange averaged 25 assists in their two October victories, surpassing last year’s single-game high by two.
That improvement could benefit Syracuse against Le Moyne, which returns only two starters and ranked 300th in assists allowed per game last season. However, Autry is seemingly more focused on the significance of this matchup for central New York.
“I think it's great for the community,” said Autry. “It’s exciting.”
Gametime from the Dome is 7 p.m. on Monday night. Our coverage starts with a special one-hour Countdown to Tipoff at 6 p.m. on 88.3 FM and WAER.org.