Syracuse Orange forward Donnie Freeman (lower body) will not play against Tennessee on Tuesday, a SU spokesperson revealed on Monday. Freeman missed all three games during the Players’ Era Festival in Las Vegas, where Syracuse went 0-3.
In the Orange’s four games against mid-major foes before the Vegas trip, Freeman was averaging 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists. He was shooting 50% from the field and 27% from three.
This injury is a major setback in what was projected to be a breakout season for the sophomore, who missed much of conference play last season with a different foot injury.
Freeman was spotted with a boot on his right foot in a since-deleted Instagram video posted by Syracuse Men’s Basketball. During Syracuse’s trip to Las Vegas, head coach Adrian Autry twice stated that he didn’t expect to be without Freeman for a long time.
In his absence, freshman Sadiq White got his first three collegiate starts, averaging nine points and three rebounds in 19.6 minutes per contest against Houston, Kansas, and Iowa State.
This also provides an opportunity for Syracuse Tyler Betsey – who is Syracuse’s third leading scorer right now – to play a bigger role. However, against a Tennessee team that ranks 12th in KenPom and is physical on the glass, not having your best interior player will hurt.
Tip-off between the Orange and Volunteers is at 7 p.m. inside the JMA Wireless Dome. Syracuse’s next game after Tuesday is next Thursday at home against Saint Joseph’s, giving Freeman an extra week to heal up.
