The Syracuse Orange basketball team (12-8, 3-4) is set for a meeting with NC State (14-6, 5-2) Tuesday night at the Lenovo Center. Ahead of that matchup, Adrian Autry was asked about former Orange player
Quadir Copeland, among other topics on the weekly ACC Coaches Zoom.
Copeland spent two seasons at Syracuse before transferring to play for Will Wade at McNeese a season ago. Copeland played his first season at Syracuse under Jim Boeheim before Autry took the helm in the 2023-24 season. Since transferring from the Orange program, Copeland made the NCAA Tournament under Wade before heading to Raleigh. His shooting has improved, as well as his maturity off the court. (Nice story on Syracuse.com that details that development.)
That and more below from Autry. Conversation has been edited for clarity.
On how Quadir Copeland’s game and shooting has evolved since transferring from Syracuse:
“I think the first thing that’ll stick out is his shooting. Especially his three point shooting. I think that will probably be the biggest thing that will jump out when you see the development, the improvement over the last few years.”
“I think he’s really progressed. Obviously his assists are up. He’s done a good job limiting his turnovers. So I think he’s really grown in that area,” Autry said. “When you talk about Syracuse, unfortunately, you know, he wasn’t here long enough. I thought the year that he was here for me, he had the ball in his hand more. He became more of a playmaking wing for us. I think eventually it would’ve progressed into him being more of a main ballhandler at some point, which is where he’s at now. Which is what he’s doing now.”
On what led to Copeland’s transfer:
“I think it was a lot of factors. Obviously with the free market, the opportunities, and I thought we were going to transition with me and things like that. So I think it was some things that kind of needed to happen. I think as far as him having to make a decision, ultimately, he made his decision, which worked out for him,” Autry said. “I’m happy that it worked out for him.”
On whether JJ Starling and Chance Westry were set to take priority at point guard ahead of Copeland in the 2024-25 season:
“I thought he would have more ballhandling duties. So those were brief conversations about that. I’m always trying to have multiple ballhandlers on my team. I think that’s the key to having a successful backcourt. Having multiple ballhandlers,” Autry said.
On Naithan George’s adjustment to Syracuse and progression throughout the season:
“You know I think to make an adjustment with a new staff and a new team, I think that always takes time especially for the point guard. Trying to figure out your players and the coaching style and what I expect from the point guard. I think he’s hit some tough patches but I love the way that he’s responded. He’s a worker. I have next-level trust in him in that he will continue to get better. And I think the team through these struggles – I wish it was easy, I wish it was a straight path but that’s just not how it is – I think we’ve taken some little bumps in the road but through it all I like the way he’s handled himself, his approach to the game, his approach to his teammates. His everyday habits have been excellent. So I have no worries that he’s going to steer the ship and he’s trending in the right direction.”
On Lawrence Moten’s jersey retirement this Saturday versus Notre Dame:
“When that time rolls around I’m sure I will have some more discussions with our team,” Autry said. “He was a good friend of mine and a teammate of mine. I want to be able to give these guys as much information because he’s someone that embodied a true alum. That was someone that was proud and had strong feelings about where he played at and what that uniform meant to him. I’m definitely going to share that with my players.
On freshman center Tiefing Diawara’s development:
“Cheffy, he’s a guy that’s coming along. I think the transition – obviously we got him a little late – I think the transition, the speed of the game and the language barrier has slowed his progress a little bit,” Autry said. “But I think he’s made tremendous progress. I would be lying if I said there wasn’t times that I thought of putting him in the game. That’s how much progress he’s made. I wouldn’t be surprised if he can get in the game going forward.”
Why points allowed, turnovers have worsened in ACC play:
“I think the biggest thing is really focusing on those areas and educating our guys on careless mistakes,” Autry said. “I think there’s some careless passes. We have to take care of the basketball and make better decisions. The points off the turnovers is a result of that. I think that’s what’s really impacted us, especially these last two or three games. Critical turnovers at critical times. Some of those turnovers that turn into points, we can’t set up our defense. That comes down to decision-making, taking less risk and playing more sound in those areas.”
NC State head coach Will Wade on the development of Quadir Copeland’s shooting:
“It’s just like everything with Q. You have to put a little discipline in,” Wade said. “Look, I prefer not as many as the off-the-bounce threes. But the catch-and-shoots he’s really good at. He went this summer to work with Phil Beckner, who I think is the best shooting coach in the country. He went out to Phoenix for a week. We set that up where he went out there for a week and worked with him. Bill got his shot right, got his wrist stronger and got it moving in the right direction. … He’s had the discipline to shoot it correctly more times than not.”
On scouting Syracuse:
“They’re uber-talented, got three really, really good guards in George and Starling and then Kingz – the shooter from Oregon State,” Wade said. “Their front-line, Kyle is as good an athlete as you’ll see. One, the freshman Freeman, tremendous player. They’re a lot better with him. Zero (Sadiq White), comes off the bench.
“Look, they are extremely, extremely talented. We’re going to have to play one of our best games. We haven’t played very well at home. We’ve been really, really poor at home.”
