SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The honeymoon phase is officially over. What started as a fairytale reunion between the Syracuse Orange and the Anthony bloodline has quickly soured into a saga of frustration, confusion, and growing tension. In a stunning move that has rippled through the college basketball world, freshman guard Kiyan Anthony—the son of program legend Carmelo Anthony—received a “Did Not Play” (DNP) designation in Syracuse’s 72-59 loss to No. 18 Virginia on Saturday.

For a team that has now lost six of its last seven games and sits at a mediocre 13-11 record, the decision to bench one of its brightest young talents has ignited a firestorm of criticism. And while Head Coach Adrian Autry insists it was strictly business, the writing on the wall suggests a much more complicated narrative is unfolding.

The “Physicality” Excuse

Kiyan Anthony has not been a mere passenger this season. Averaging 8.9 points per game and showing flashes of brilliance—including a blistering start to the season and a solid 10-point outing just days prior against North Carolina—he has been a key rotation piece. Yet, against the Cavaliers, he sat. For forty minutes, he wore his warmups, watching his team struggle to generate offense in a double-digit loss.

When pressed on the decision, Coach Autry offered an explanation that many analysts found baffling.

“It was just my decision,” Autry told reporters postgame. “This is a physical team, experienced team, and I just… that was just my decision. Nothing else. No injuries or anything like that. No narratives about any of this stuff.”

The logic is puzzling. Virginia is indeed known for its “Pack Line” defense and physical style of play. However, for a program that is likely missing the NCAA Tournament and possibly even the NIT, the priority usually shifts to development. Benching a freshman who represents the future of the program because the opponent is “tough” sends a contradictory message. How is a player supposed to adapt to the physicality of the ACC if he is shielded from it?

Critics argue that if you are losing with upperclassmen, you might as well lose while developing the freshmen. By sitting Kiyan, Autry didn’t just lose the game; he lost valuable development time for a player the program desperately needs to retain.

Melo’s “Adversity” and the SMFH Heard ‘Round the World

The elephant in the room, of course, is Carmelo Anthony. The NBA legend and Syracuse icon has been a visible fixture at games, supporting his son and his alma mater. But cracks in the facade have started to show.

Following a heartbreaking loss to North Carolina earlier in the week—a game where Syracuse erased a 30-point deficit only to fall short—Melo commented “SMFH” (Shaking My F***ing Head) on social media. The comment was widely interpreted as a shot at the coaching staff and the state of the program.

After the DNP against Virginia, Melo took a different, more calculated approach. Responding to an ESPN post about his son’s benching, he wrote: “He’ll be Good! THEY SAY it’s part of the Journey. A little adversity don’t hurt.”

While the comment appears supportive on the surface, the capitalization of “THEY SAY” carries a heavy load of subtext. It suggests a disconnect between the Anthony camp and the coaching staff’s philosophy. Melo knows the game better than almost anyone; he knows that “adversity” usually means fighting through a tough game, not sitting on the bench while your team loses by 13.

The Transfer Portal Threat

This situation creates a dangerous game of chicken for Syracuse. In the modern era of the Transfer Portal and NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), player loyalty is thinner than ever. Kiyan Anthony committed to Syracuse to build on his father’s legacy, but he also came to play.

If a player averaging nearly 9 points per game can be benched for an entire contest due to a “matchup,” what stops him from looking elsewhere? There are dozens of high-major programs that would happily offer Kiyan 30 minutes a night, regardless of the opponent’s “physicality.”

The host of NBA Cinema broke it down perfectly: “If you’re losing with a bunch of upperclassmen, at the very least you want your younger guys to get some in-game experience… stealing some minutes from him, I think that could be costly. And honestly, they may end up losing Kiyan to the portal.”

A Season on the Brink

The loss to Virginia dropped Syracuse to 13-11. The postseason is fading fast. The upperclassmen are graduating. The only thing Syracuse has to sell right now is the future—a future headlined by Kiyan Anthony.

Coach Autry is in a precarious position. He is trying to win games to save the season, but in doing so, he risks alienating the program’s most important recruit and his legendary father. The “no narratives” comment in his press conference was a plea for silence, but by benching the Prince of Syracuse, he has ensured the noise will only get louder.

For Kiyan, this is indeed adversity. But for Syracuse, it might be the beginning of an exit strategy. If the Orange want to keep the Anthony legacy alive in New York, they need to put the kid on the court—physicality be damned.