Adrian Autry Clarifies Kiyan Anthony’s Absence Against Virginia

Syracuse University faced off against the Virginia Cavaliers on the hardwood, suffering a 72-59 defeat at the John Paul Jones Arena. A notable highlight of the game was Kiyan Anthony’s absence from the court, as he did not participate at all. This marked the first time he did not log any minutes in a game this season. Until this match, Anthony had played in all 23 games for the Orange, averaging 19.3 minutes per game.

Adrian Autry Addresses Kiyan Anthony’s Bench Decision

Despite Kiyan Anthony’s readiness—he participated in pregame warmups and was not noted on the ACC injury report—head coach Adrian Autry made a decisive call to sideline him for this match. “No injury concerns,” Autry clarified post-game. “It was just my decision. This is a physical team, an experienced team.” Autry emphasized that there were no underlying health issues affecting Anthony’s participation.

Player Performance and Statistics

Entering the game, Anthony boasted a scoring average of 8.9 points. However, his efficiency metrics were not up to par compared to his teammates. According to data from KenPom.com, he held the lowest offensive efficiency among the Orange’s rotation players.

Here are some of his current statistics:

• Height: 6 feet 5 inches
• Shooting percentage from the field: 41%
• Shooting from three-point range: 23% (14-for-60)

Coach Autry reiterated that his decision was final, stating, “It was my decision that I made today.” For the Syracuse Orange, who currently stand at 13-11 overall and 4-7 in the ACC, their next matchup will be against California on Tuesday.