The Syracuse basketball program found itself at the center of controversy when former five-star recruit Benny Williams was dismissed from the team in February 2024. What began as a promising career filled with high expectations ended abruptly, leaving fans questioning what went wrong with one of the program’s most anticipated talents.
Williams’ departure represents the latest chapter in college basketball’s ongoing narrative of talent versus team culture. The once celebrated forward’s journey from top prospect to team dismissal offers a revealing look at how quickly fortunes can change when on-court performance and off-court conduct collide.
The Suspension That Started It All
Williams was suspended by Syracuse Athletics. The announcement came dramatically just 90 minutes before the team’s second exhibition game against College of Saint Rose during the 2023-24 season. Officials cited a “violation of team rules” without providing specific details about the infraction.
The suspension kept Williams sidelined for three games total, the exhibition contest and the first two regular season games. When he finally made his season debut against Colgate on Nov. 14, his performance was underwhelming, ten minutes played with zero points scored.
Head coach Adrian Autry, in his first year leading the program, he maintained a tight-lipped approach about the specifics behind Williams’ suspension. This early-season disciplinary action foreshadowed the challenging relationship that would continue to deteriorate throughout the season.
Williams’ absence from playing time grew increasingly conspicuous. In a telling moment during a game against Cornell where Williams saw no minutes, Coach Autry bluntly stated he preferred to play “the guys that could help us,” a pointed comment that revealed growing frustration with the talented forward.
From Bad to Worse: The Final Straw
The suspension proved to be just the beginning of Williams’ troubles. Throughout the 2023-24 season, his role diminished significantly compared to his sophomore campaign. Once a starter in 24 games, Williams found himself relegated to the bench for all 18 appearances in his final season.
Williams’ frustrations boiled over during a Feb. 3, 2024 game against Wake Forest. After receiving a technical foul for throwing the ball away in anger, and he had an awkward physical interaction with Coach Autry while returning to the bench.
More concerning was his decision to skip the postgame handshake line, ignoring an assistant coach’s attempt to redirect him.
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The day following the Wake Forest incident, Coach Autry emphasized team unity on an ACC Coaches Call. Without directly naming Williams, he stressed his willingness to play walk-ons if necessary to maintain the team’s standards and style of play.
Just three days after the Wake Forest game, Syracuse Basketball announced Williams’ dismissal with a brief statement.
“Benny Williams has been dismissed from the Syracuse men’s basketball team. Everyone involved with the program wishes Benny the best,” the statement said.
BREAKING: Benny Williams has been dismissed from Syracuse Men’s Basketball, via the team’s Instagram account pic.twitter.com/U2fO7AiBcg
— Samantha Croston (@SamCroston1) February 6, 2024
His name promptly disappeared from the team’s roster on the university website.
The dismissal came at a critical time, leaving Syracuse with only four forwards and significantly reduced frontcourt depth. Despite this vulnerability, the coaching staff deemed Williams’ continued presence more detrimental than beneficial to the program’s goals.
Williams eventually transferred to the University of Central Florida, where he averaged 3.6 points and 2.1 rebounds during the 2024-25 season. His entry into the transfer portal again in April 2025 as a graduate transfer suggests his journey to find the right basketball fit continues, while Syracuse has moved forward without looking back.
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