Syracuse, N.Y. — ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams offered a short explanation for what ails Syracuse’s program during Wednesday night’s nationally televised eyesore against No. 2 Duke.

Williams, a Duke grad who won the Naismith Award and Wooden Award as the national player of the year during his time with the Blue Devils, was asked about both the short-term and long-term issues facing the Orange amid a losing season.

“The talent level needs to be elevated,” Williams said late in Wednesday night’s broadcast on ESPN2. “I think Syracuse fans recognize that. I think the coaching staff recognizes that.

“The collective for Syracuse basketball also needs to recognize that because you’re not going to get top-tier talent without having top-tier capital.”

Williams’ comments came with about 2 minutes remaining in Syracuse’s 83-54 loss to No. 2 Duke on Wednesday night in the JMA Wireless Dome.

“By the way,” Williams said in closing, “that was the reality a few years ago.

“That’s been the reality 20 years ago.”

The Orange dropped to 10-13 on the season and 4-8 in the ACC. It must win the conference tournament next month to avoid missing the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-straight season. The program is mired in its longest NCAA Tournament drought since missing the tournament in six-consecutive seasons from 1966-72.

Earlier in the broadcast, Williams and Syracuse graduate Kevin Brown touched on the importance of having a budget to acquire veteran players from the transfer portal. Williams made the observation that is what has helped the SEC become a deep conference that looks to have several teams worthy of cutting down the nets at the Final Four in April.

Duke, the lone unbeaten in ACC play, has the look of a title contender in Jon Scheyer’s third season since succeeding Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski.

One of Scheyer’s first moves after getting the job was hiring Rachel Baker, a former Nike and NBA staffer, in June 2022 to be Duke basketball’s general manager. Baker was seated behind the Duke bench in the JMA Dome for Wednesday’s game.

The Orange hired Alex Kline, a 30-year-old former NBA scout, last summer for the same role. Kline also sits near the SU bench during games and travels with the team.

The proliferation of GM positions in the college game has come amid a shift to a more professionalized business model.

“I know we’re headed in the right direction,” Syracuse coach Adrian Autry said after the game.

“We’ll be fine. I think Alex will do a great job. He’s doing a great job. We’re building this thing. We’re building it to be strong and to get back to what we all know this thing used to be and what we want it to be.”