3 takeaways for Syracuse basketball at ACC Tipoff

The annual ACC Tipoff media event took place on Wednesday in uptown Charlotte. Representing Syracuse were coach Adrian Autry and a trio of players: Judah Mintz, J.J. Starling, and Benny Williams.

Here are three key takeaways:

As part of his annual forum, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips officially welcomed first-year coaches to the league and gave a special mention to Adrian Autry.

Phillips also discussed:

*The conference’s national status and reputation.

“This conference has been underrated. When you consider CFP appearances, college football National Championships, and our basketball success (with three NCAA championships in the last eight years and 99 NCAA Tournament wins in that span), it’s clear that we have achieved more than any other conference.”

*The success of both men’s and women’s teams in competition and academics, despite being third in revenue behind the Big Ten and SEC.

“Are we purely focused on financial gains, or are we driven by our commitment to success?”

*The addition of new conference members Cal, SMU, and Stanford.

“These additions bring us two Top 10 markets and elevate the conference’s national reputation.”

*The decision to exclude all 18 teams from the ACC Basketball Tournament.

“I believe teams should earn their place in the most prestigious postseason basketball tournament in the country. If a team doesn’t meet the necessary threshold, they won’t make it that year.”

During a condensed press conference due to scheduling constraints, Autry, Starling, and Mintz fielded questions. Autry shared a brief overview of the team’s playing style for Orange fans.

“You will notice significant changes on both ends of the court. Defensively, the main question is whether we’ll continue to use the zone defense. While we will still incorporate it, it will not be our primary strategy moving forward. Expect to see a variety of defensive approaches.”

Offensively, we are fortunate to have dynamic guards capable of dribbling, passing, and shooting. With two or three guards on the court simultaneously, you’ll witness a faster pace and improved spacing.”

Sophomore guard, Judah Mintz, who gained valuable experience from participating in the NBA Draft combine, has embraced the new culture under Autry and assistant coaches Gerry McNamara and Allen Griffin. He has a clear goal in mind:

“Defense is paramount. Without stops, we can’t win games. This season, I am ready to showcase my abilities and prove the importance of defense.”

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