The spotlight was glaringly absent from one familiar face on the Syracuse bench Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville. For the first time in his young collegiate career, freshman guard Kiyan Anthony—son of Syracuse legend and NBA great Carmelo Anthony—did not play a single minute as the Orange fell 72-59 to No. 18 Virginia at John Paul Jones Arena. The decision, which drew attention from fans and media alike, was confirmed by head coach Adrian Autry as a deliberate coaching choice, not the result of injury or disciplinary action.
Anthony, who had been a regular fixture in Syracuse’s rotation through 23 games this season, remained on the sideline throughout the contest, sporting his warmup gear and offering only the occasional high-five or word of encouragement. The move came as a surprise to many, especially given Anthony’s status as the Orange’s leading scorer off the bench and his average of 8.9 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. His absence on the court was felt, but Autry stood firm in his reasoning.
“No, no injury concerns. It was just, you know, my decision,” Autry stated postgame. “(Virginia) is a physical team, an experienced team. And, you know, it was just my decision. It was nothing else, no injuries or anything like that, there’s no narratives about any of this stuff. Again, I just made the decision. That was my decision I made today.” According to CBS Sports, Autry reiterated, “It’s no narratives about any of this stuff. I just made the decision. That was just my decision that I made today.”
The timing of the benching couldn’t have been more intriguing. Just days earlier, Carmelo Anthony had voiced his frustration on social media following Syracuse’s 87-77 loss to North Carolina, commenting “SMFH” (shaking my f—ing head) on the team’s official Instagram account. Kiyan, in that game, had played 16 minutes and tallied 10 points—good for fourth on the team behind Donnie Freeman, Naithan George, and J.J. Starling. The Orange trailed by as many as 32 points before a late rally brought the deficit to single digits, but the loss nevertheless added to a string of disappointing results for a program steeped in tradition.
For Kiyan Anthony, the benching marked an abrupt halt to what has been a freshman campaign full of both promise and growing pains. Since committing to Syracuse in 2024, the anticipation around Carmelo’s son donning the Orange jersey had been palpable. Through the first 23 games of the 2025-26 season, Kiyan logged two starts and averaged nearly 20 minutes per game, though his playing time had been trending downward since the start of ACC play. His shooting numbers—41.6% from the field, 23.3% from three-point range, and 61.2% from the free-throw line—reflect both his potential and his struggles to adjust to the college game’s pace and physicality.
Despite the fluctuations in his role, Anthony maintained a team-first attitude. After the loss to North Carolina, he addressed his evolving place in the rotation: “It’s nothing personal,” Kiyan said. “It’s no hard feelings. The business is business at the end of the day. So if that’s what it got to be, then that’s what it got to be. But we definitely gotta do a better job of executing.” He added that he was “super OK” with his bench-guard role, especially considering it’s the final year for senior guards J.J. Starling and Nate Kingz.
Yet, the decision to sit Anthony entirely against Virginia raised eyebrows. Autry cited the Cavaliers’ physicality and experience as factors in his rotation choices. He also highlighted the defensive intensity and unselfish play of Bryce Zephir, who came off the bench for eight minutes. “(Zephir) is also a guy that is always looking to get everyone involved,” Autry explained. “I think that’s something that was missing a bit for us. We have guys that like to score.” Zephir’s defensive tenacity and willingness to move the ball appeared to fit the coach’s vision for facing a top-25 opponent like Virginia.
Anthony, meanwhile, was unavailable to speak with the media after the game. In the hours following the contest, he briefly liked an ESPN Instagram post highlighting his DNP (Did Not Play) status and Autry’s comments, only to later unlike it—a subtle but telling moment in the world of modern athlete social media.
For the Orange as a whole, the loss to Virginia was another tough blow in a season that has seen more downs than ups. Syracuse’s record fell to 13-11 overall and 4-7 in ACC play, with the team now having lost six of its last seven games. The program, which has not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2021, appears to be on track to miss March Madness for the fifth consecutive year. The mounting losses have put additional pressure on Autry, himself a Syracuse legend and one of the greatest guards in school history, as he tries to steer the program back to national relevance.
The absence of Kiyan Anthony from the court on Saturday was not just a personnel decision—it was a flashpoint in the ongoing story of a storied program grappling with transition and expectation. The younger Anthony’s journey has been closely watched, not only because of his famous lineage but also because of the hope he represents for a fan base hungry for a return to glory. His benching, coming on the heels of a public display of frustration from his father, added another layer of intrigue to an already complex season.
As the Orange look ahead, questions remain about how Kiyan’s role will evolve and how Autry will navigate the pressures of both internal expectations and external scrutiny. For now, the coach’s message is clear: every decision is made with the team’s best interests in mind, regardless of name or pedigree. Whether this approach will yield results in the win column remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt the eyes of the college basketball world will stay fixed on Syracuse—and on Kiyan Anthony—as the season continues.
With the team’s tournament hopes fading and the rotation in flux, the Orange face a critical stretch. Will Kiyan Anthony return to his regular role, or will Autry continue to tinker with his lineup in search of a winning formula? One thing’s for sure: the drama in Syracuse basketball is far from over.