Syracuse still chasing signature win as Wake Forest visits

Field Level Media|published: Mon 30th December, 14:37 2024

Dec 14, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Adrian Autry calls a play against the Georgetown Hoyas during the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Syracuse coach Adrian Autry has certain expectations for his players and his program, but the team has not reached that bar through the first two months of the season.

The second-year coach hopes the Orange can deliver a more complete effort Tuesday when Syracuse concludes the calendar year against visiting Wake Forest.

Syracuse (6-6, 0-1 ACC) has struggled against smaller schools this season, defeating Le Moyne, Colgate, Youngstown State, Cornell and Albany by an average of 7.4 points. Saturday's 75-63 win over Bucknell was much-needed, as the team had lost four of its previous five games, but it still left Autry with a sour taste in his mouth.

"I have a standard, and we're not there yet," Autry said. "You could see my frustration. I've got to try to find the guys that are going to compete at that standard."

Not only have the Orange struggled to beat smaller schools, but they have yet to post a win against a major-conference opponent. Syracuse has faced Texas, Texas Tech, Tennessee, Notre Dame, Georgetown and Maryland and has lost all six of those games, including blowout defeats against the Volunteers and Terrapins.

"From now on, it's going to be very good teams," senior guard Jaquan Carlos said. "And when they get up big, it's gonna be a hard hole to come out of. So I think we got to throw the first punch and just keep throwing punches after that."

Wake Forest (9-4, 1-1) similarly has struggled against high-level opponents. The Demon Deacons have faced three ranked teams and have dropped all three games by double figures. Most recently, the team fell to then-No. 25 Clemson 73-62 on Dec. 21.

Hunter Sallis and Cameron Hildreth combined for 41 points on 17-of-26 shooting, but the other three starters totaled nine points against the Tigers.

Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes lamented his team's inability to find a consistent scoring option behind Sallis (17.8 points per game) and Hildreth (12.6).

"I'd like to see somebody step up and take the minutes," said Forbes, adding that "we're searching and nobody's really just taking it. I'd like to see somebody take it and hopefully when we come back (after the holiday break), someone will."

--Field Level Media