Syracuse Orange men’s basketball: Following suspension, Benny Williams returns to game action

Syracuse has reinstated junior forward Benny Williams after suspension.

• By
  
  James Szuba
  
• on November 15, 2023 12:00 pm

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Junior forward Benny Williams made his return to the Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team for the recent Colgate matchup. After being sidelined for a “violation of team rules” earlier in the season, Williams missed the team’s final exhibition contest and the first two games of the season. He was reinstated for all team activities following the Canisius game last week.

Williams, Syracuse’s most experienced player in the program as a junior, played nine minutes in his return but struggled, going 0-4 from the floor while grabbing one rebound and dishing out one assist.

“It’s going to take some time to get his conditioning and rhythm back,” Adrian Autry said post-game.

After starting 24 games as a sophomore, Williams came off the bench in his return against Colgate. The 6-foot-9 junior forward made his first appearance of the season at the 9:46 mark, receiving an audible cheer from the Syracuse fanbase.

Williams was one of three returning starters for Syracuse coming into the year. Despite his struggles in his first game back, Autry mentioned how Williams was up cheering for his teammates and prepared to play.

“He was into it. He was ready to go if I called him,” the head coach said.

Williams was not available for interviews following the game and was not seen in the Syracuse locker room. Sophomore Justin Taylor continues to start in his place with Chris Bell at the opposite forward position.

“We look forward to working him back in with this team and getting him back into the rotation,” Autry said.

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