After Benny Williams’ departure, Adrian Autry and the players spoke about their feelings: “Sometimes things don’t work out.”
The Syracuse Orange faced a range of emotions during their Wednesday night game at the JMA Wireless Dome. This match marked their first appearance since the removal of junior forward Benny Williams, who was dismissed from the team. Despite the absence of Williams and coming off a humiliating 99-70 defeat to Wake Forest, Syracuse secured a hard-fought 94-92 victory against the Louisville Cardinals.
Coach Adrian Autry, addressing the media, commended the team’s response, expressing pride in their resilience amid the emotional challenges. Autry refrained from specifying the timing or method of delivering the news to Williams and the rest of the team.
Benny Williams, a former starter, had been contributing 5.4 points and 3.9 rebounds off the bench this season. Autry acknowledged the emotional strain on the team after the Wake Forest game and emphasized the need to regroup and move forward.
The decision to dismiss Williams was not elaborated on by Autry, who acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, given his history as the lead assistant during Williams’ recruitment. Autry wished Williams the best but refrained from delving into details.
The Syracuse players showed support for Williams, expressing their feelings of missing him. With a 15-8 season record and a 6-6 ACC standing, Syracuse faces eight regular-season games ahead, dealing with the challenge of a reduced rotation due to Williams’ departure.
Despite being outrebounded by Louisville, Syracuse secured the win with standout performances, including a career-high 30 points from Chris Bell and contributions from Judah Mintz and Maliq Brown. Autry praised the team’s character and resilience, emphasizing their determination in overcoming challenges and securing the victory.
The article concludes with references to specific players’ performances, highlighting the team’s unity in the face of adversity and the impact of Williams’ dismissal on Syracuse’s basketball dynamics.
