Syracuse University faced a significant setback in its basketball season, suffering a decisive 95-64 loss to Iowa State University during the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. While defensive shortcomings contributed to the defeat, the core issue for Syracuse lay in its offensive execution, which has been notably lackluster throughout the tournament.
Offensive Woes and Turnovers
The Orange’s struggles were highlighted by an inability to effectively read Iowa State’s defense, leading to poor decision-making on the court. Syracuse’s stagnant half-court offense displayed excessive dribbling and a lack of movement, resulting in a series of turnovers that proved costly. In the second half alone, Iowa State capitalized on these mistakes, scoring 20 points off turnovers.
“Proud of our guys for their execution second-half defensively, setting the tone with the ball pressure, generating turnovers and scoring off our defense,” said Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzelberger. “That’s our identity.”
Syracuse’s inability to establish its own identity was evident, as the team struggled to generate easy scoring opportunities in transition. The Orange’s performance has not only affected their standing in the tournament but has also raised questions about the effectiveness of their offensive strategy.
Challenges for the Point Guard
Much of Syracuse’s offensive challenges can be traced back to the performance of third-year point guard Naithan George, who was recruited from Georgia Tech. In three games, George has found it difficult to penetrate opposing defenses, finishing with a shooting percentage of just 27.3% after going 6-of-22 from the field. He recorded 12 assists but also committed 13 turnovers, highlighting a stark need for improvement in his playmaking ability.
Teammates have not consistently provided the necessary support, often failing to position themselves effectively to relieve pressure on George. Head coach Adrian Autry emphasized the need for a more collective effort to assist their point guard. “There are some things that we need to tweak to help everyone,” he remarked. “We’re still trying to put it all together and I think we’ve had moments. We just really haven’t caught a groove yet.”
As the season progresses, Autry is looking for George to make better decisions under pressure, particularly when teams employ aggressive defensive strategies against him. Reflecting on previous games, Autry noted that Iowa State defended George similarly to how Houston had done, resulting in a pattern of turnovers that Syracuse must address.
George himself acknowledged the challenges of adapting to a new system and teammates earlier in the season. As Syracuse enters the second half of their 2025-26 campaign, it is crucial for the team to enhance its offensive output, especially from its point guard position.
“We’ve asked him to really focus on both sides of the ball and he’s done a tremendous job of that,” Autry stated. “So, I think some adjusting does need to take place for him. I don’t worry about Naithan. He’s a resilient kid. He’s a hard worker. He’ll get it turned around.”
With seven games now completed, Syracuse’s path to improvement hinges on finding clarity and cohesion within its offensive strategy, particularly through the development of its point guard. Only time will tell if the Orange can transform their current struggles into a successful season.
