LAS VEGAS, NV. — Syracuse fell to Kansas 71–60 on Tuesday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, a game that showed both the fight the Orange already have, and the growth still needed before ACC play.
Syracuse opened with intention and structure despite facing its second high-major opponent in two days. Adrian Autry emphasized energy and connectedness in the pregame meeting, and the Orange carried that into the early minutes. They stayed within a possession early and matched Kansas basket for basket, refusing to let the game slip.
But as the first half unfolded, Kansas’ maturity began to surface. The Jayhawks played with constant movement, switching and spacing that forced Syracuse deeper into the shot clock and exposed small defensive mistakes.
Guard Naithan George said the switching disrupted the rhythm early. “They just switched, and they’ve got a pretty big team,” George said. “You’ve got to be more aggressive. I feel like we got taken out of our things because of them switching.”
Kansas slowly built a cushion through interior dominance. Freshman forward Flory Bidunga controlled the paint with 13 points and 14 rebounds, anchoring a 49–29 advantage on the glass. Syracuse generated touches inside, but early missed free throws kept them from fully answering. The Orange went 5-for-10 at the line before halftime.
Even with those misses, Syracuse created its biggest first-half spark in the final minute. With the shot clock expiring, freshman Tyler Betsey hit a contested three that held up on review, trimming Kansas’ lead to 34–25 and keeping the Orange within striking distance at the break.
That momentum carried into the second half. Syracuse extended full-court pressure, forcing Kansas into quicker possessions and creating transition opportunities. George pushed the pace downhill, J.J. Starling knocked down a corner three, and the Orange chipped away one possession at a time. Their best stretch came just over six minutes from the finish, when Betsey buried another deep three to cut the deficit to 52–50 — the closest Syracuse had been since the opening minutes.
Autry said that push came from effort and connection rather than adjustments.
“It’s about our energy on both ends, moving the ball, sharing,” he said. “We got good shots. Some we can make, some we didn’t. But it falls back on our concentration and our energy effort.”
But the smallest details turned the game back. By the time Syracuse cut the lead to two, the Orange had already left points at the free-throw line that would have tied or flipped the game. Kansas, meanwhile, was nearly perfect, finishing 18-of-20 at the stripe. Syracuse went 13-of-23.
Kansas responded immediately. Tre White drew a foul on a three-point attempt and made all three free throws. Second-chance rebounds and timely stops fueled an 11–0 run that pushed the game back out of reach. Syracuse didn’t make another field goal until the final minutes.
Autry was directed about the rebounding difference. “We didn’t do a good job on the glass. That impacted the game,” he said. “It’s something we have to keep working on.”
Betsey led Syracuse with 12 points, Starling added 10 off the bench and Kyle III pulled down nine rebounds. But the story wasn’t individual stat lines — it was the combination of competitive stretches and costly growing pains. Syracuse dictated tempo at times, defended with effort and stayed within reach of a national power. They also missed free throws, lost the rebounding battle and slipped into too many late-clock possessions.
Autry didn’t hide from what this type of matchup revealed. He said games like this expose strengths and gaps and show exactly what must improve. “We know what we’re capable of and we’re not there yet,” Autry said. “It’s early in the season. We’ve got to continue to work on that.”
How Autry’s Trust Shapes Syracuse’s Growth
Where Syracuse continues to take meaningful steps is in how Autry coaches a young roster through mistakes. Instead of pulling players for every misstep, he allows them to play through possessions, adjust and respond — a philosophy that builds confidence and accountability.
George said that trust changes everything for players. “It’s everything. It makes you want to go hard for him,” he said. “Knowing he has your back through the good and bad makes you want to run through a wall for him.”
Starling echoed it as he works his way back from injury. “Having that trust to play through mistakes is big time,” he said. “Now it’s just finding my rhythm, playing with high energy and effort, and letting things take care of themselves.”
Autry’s approach reflects the long view. He wants his players to grow in real time, not in fear of making mistakes, and he knows that building that foundation now will matter when conference play intensifies.
Where Syracuse Goes Next
Syracuse leaves Las Vegas 4–2. They didn’t get the signature win, but they gained clarity — the kind that matters most at this stage. They saw what translates against elite competition, what falls short, and what can be tightened: rebounding, movement, composure and consistency at the free-throw line.
The growing pains were real, but so was the fight. Now Syracuse knows exactly where it needs to grow next.