Through ten games in the 2025-26 season for the Syracuse Orange, some things have gone well while others haven’t. That said, there is one statistic that can’t be ignored, because the program is currently
dead last in it.
As of Tuesday, Syracuse is ranked No. 361 out of No. 361 in free throw percentage, converting just 56.76% of its over 200 trips. The next five teams above Syracuse: Little Rock, App State, Maine, Alcorn and UTSA. The next closest team to the Orange from a Power Five conference is Cincinnati (No. 351), who’s making 62.5% of its foul line shots.
Taking a deeper look at the numbers across the 10-game sample so far this year, and the poor percentage has come during both the wins and losses:
Syracuse has only had one game so far this season where it shot above 70% from the foul line. That was against Drexel, where it made over 73% of its look, but also took its fewest attempts (15). The Orange have more games where they shot below 60% (seven) on free throws than games where they made above that mark (three).
And again, the trend has appeared in both victory and defeat.
The Houston game is one good example, when the Orange only lost by four in double-overtime to one of the best defenses in the nation. That said, Syracuse took its second-most attempts from the foul line (29) all year, and it made its lowest percentage (under 42%).
In another example, this time a win, Syracuse snuck by Monmouth 78-73. This game came down to the very end with Monmouth putting the Orange on the line, and the team not being able to convert in the final minutes on its freebies.
The latest instance came during Syracuse’s most recent and shocking loss to Hofstra at home by one.
Yes, the Pride shot lights out from the perimeter, going 12/18 from three in the contest. But the Orange had a chance to tie the game up with 18 seconds to go. Sadiq White, who is shooting 55% on the season on free throws, split his two attempts. Instead of being tied and potentially going into overtime, the Orange were now playing from behind.
All this to say, that wasn’t the *single reason why Syracuse lost that game, or its others where it shot poorly from the foul line. But, it is starting to cost the Orange wins, and will continue to do so against tougher competition once the ACC slate starts.
Syracuse is attempting 22.2 free throws per game so far in 2025-26. That ranks No. 131 in the NCAA but is near some notable P5 teams like Oklahoma, Iowa, Rutgers, Illinois and Michigan. In terms of volume, the Orange are solid, but if they’re only making 5o% to 60% of those attempts, the amount of points being left on the table starts to stack up.
Of the eight Syracuse players who are suiting up for at least 19 minutes per game, six of them are shooting below 60% from the foul line:
Donnie Freeman’s absence is quietly a crucial reason why the team’s free throw percentage is currently the worst in the NCAA. Despite only playing in four games so far, he’s taken the third-most foul line shots for the Orange and made the most. George is the only other rotation player shooting at least 70%, but is volume is currently tied for the fewest (along with Nate Kingz) among the guys playing 19 or more minutes a game.
William Kyle is another culprit, shooting a team-high 49 free throws and making the second-fewest among Syracuse’s top-eight in minutes played. That number, however, is expected. Kyle is shooting 55.5% on free throws in his collegiate career, which is now over 100 games.
Two players to watch going forward are Kiyan Anthony and J.J. Starling. Anthony’s volume (second-most on the Orange) is notable, but he’s below 60% on his attempts. Starling not only has the lowest percentage (by nine points), but he also is only getting to the foul line an average of twice per contest.
Looking ahead, there are several ways the Orange can improve from here with conference play looming, but the free throw shooting has to be better. So far, it literally can’t get any worse.
