The Carrier Dome, a cathedral of Syracuse basketball, was packed to the rafters. A record 23,313 fans filled the arena, draped in orange, hoping for a miracle. It wasn’t to be. The Orange faithful had come expecting the team to put up a fight against Cooper Flagg’s Blue Devils but by the final buzzer, they sat in stunned silence as Duke walked off the court with an 83-54 victory. It wasn’t just a loss—it was a public unraveling. The chants didn’t take long to start. Against one, louder than the rest.
According to an Instagram post from Syracuse Men’s Basketball, the game drew the largest crowd in the country this season. “Largest attendance in the country this season. Thank you Orange Nation! ” the caption read. But gratitude felt misplaced. The fans had shown up, but the team hadn’t.
From the jump, the No. 2 Blue Devils dictated the tempo. Duke shot 44% in the first half, gradually stretching their lead to 37-23 at the break. In the second half, they exploded, shooting a blistering 68% and leaving Syracuse in the dust.
Tyrese Proctor led Duke with 16 points, while Cooper Flagg, the freshman phenom, added 11. Syracuse, on the other hand, struggled. Jyare Davis and J.J. Starling were the only Orange players in double digits, each scoring 12. The team shot an abysmal 38.3% from the field and just 26.1% from beyond the arc. The numbers weren’t just bad—they were damning.
This only worsens the case for head coach Adrian Autry who has struggled to bring wins this season. After a 20-win campaign in his first year, he has earned the confidence of former player Eric Devendorf. “You really have no clue. What goes on behind the scenes and all the stuff they have to deal with, Coach Red is doing as well of a job as he can. He’ll continue to get better,” he had to say. But fans do not see the signs.
As Flagg’s blue devils demolish Syracuse, fans unite under one cry: “Fire Adrian Autry”
As Duke’s lead ballooned, frustration boiled over. Fans took to social media, calling for head coach Adrian Autry’s dismissal. One fan put it bluntly: “Fire Adrian Autry.”
The anger wasn’t just about one game. Syracuse, once a powerhouse under Jim Boeheim, has been in steady decline. The Orange are now 10-13 on the season, 4-8 in ACC play, and have lost four of their last five. It’s not just the losses—it’s how they’re losing.
Jan 14, 2025; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils players wait to enter the game during the second half against the Miami Hurricanes at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images
One fan didn’t mince words: “Adrian Autry is a really bad coach. This is the worst Syracuse team I have ever seen.” Harsh. But the team hasn’t exactly delivered the wow moments. The Orange looked lost on both ends of the floor today. Duke racked up 23 points off 14 Syracuse turnovers. The Blue Devils also recorded 12 steals, a season-high, exposing Syracuse’s lack of ball security.
Another fan highlighted the deeper issue: “I’m not sure what Adrian Autry does for this SU Basketball team. Consistently undisciplined, atrocious defense, no offensive flow and a nonexistent fast break. #CuseNation.” Syracuse had just 11 assists compared to Duke’s 18, struggling to generate open looks. Their fast-break points? A measly two. The Orange offense, once feared, is now nonexistent.
One particularly cutting comment read: “Wake me up when Adrian Autry isn’t the coach of this team.” The sentiment is clear: patience is running out. Per the current situation, the Orange would even struggle make the ACC tournament as one the bottom 4 teams in the conference.
Adding to the humiliation was the presence of Cooper Flagg. The projected No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft wasn’t even Duke’s leading scorer, but his mere presence served as a stark reminder of what Syracuse lacks—elite talent and a clear future. Flagg finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and two blocks, but his impact went beyond the box score.
This only reinforced the frustration of one fan, who summed it up bluntly: “It’s wild how far this program has fallen. Fire Adrian Autry.”
There was a time when Syracuse could compete for players like Flagg. Now, they’re an afterthought. Their most promising recruit in years, Donnie Freeman, won’t arrive until next season—by which point, the damage may already be done.
Syracuse has winnable games left on the schedule, but the reality is grim. The team’s only path to the NCAA Tournament is a deep ACC run—an unlikely scenario given their current form. Meanwhile, Duke marches on, extending their winning streak to 16 games and reaffirming their dominance.
For the 23,313 fans who filled the Carrier Dome, the night was supposed to be about belief. Instead, it became a breaking point. The program isn’t just losing games—it’s losing its identity. And if the calls to fire Adrian Autry keep growing louder, Syracuse basketball may be heading for an offseason reckoning.
The post Calls Mount to Fire Syracuse Coach as Record 23,313 Fans Hang Their Heads in Shame Against Cooper Flagg’s Duke appeared first on EssentiallySports.
