On Tuesday night, Syracuse University legend Gerry McNamara helped lead the Siena University men's basketball team to the NCAA Tournament, beating top-seeded Merrimack in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) final.

Siena is headed back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2010 as McNamara has completely restored the program in just two year's time. The Saints went 4-28 in 2023-24 before McNamara arrived and are now 23-11 heading into the NCAA Tournament.

Speaking Wednesday morning on the Field of 68, McNamara spoke mostly about the pride in his current team, but he did address the SU firing of Adrian Autry from Wednesday morning, saying that some team will be smart to scoop Autry up. He spoke about their relationship and Autry's work ethic as well. He was also asked about his interest in the SU job, electing to deflect back to his team and his focus on the Saints. However, McNamara did reveal that he had only made one phone call for the day before going on the show: Former Orange head coach Jim Boeheim.

McNamara: I ​had ​to ​call ​him ​back ​because ​my ​man, ​Coach ​Boeheim ​called ​me ​two ​or ​three ​times ​before... ​He ​was ​my ​first ​call ​back. ​His ​phone ​call ​woke ​me ​up ​this ​morning. ​I ​heard ​the ​phone ​going, ​and ​I ​looked ​over ​and ​it ​was ​Coach ​Boeheim. ​And ​I ​flipped ​the ​phone ​back. ​I'm ​not ​ready ​to ​get ​up ​yet. ​So, ​when ​he ​called ​me ​a ​second ​time, ​I ​missed ​it ​because ​my ​phone ​was ​in ​my ​pocket, so ​I ​hit ​him ​back ​after ​that. ​I ​thought ​it ​was ​pretty ​fitting ​to ​talk ​to ​Coach. ​He was the ​first ​phone ​call ​I ​had ​this ​morning, ​it's ​pretty ​neat.

Field of 68: Well, ​I'm ​at ​the ​ACC ​tournament ​here ​in ​Charlotte, ​and ​I ​just ​saw him. ​I'm ​going ​to ​ask ​him ​what ​it ​means ​that ​you ​blew ​off ​his ​call ​two ​times ​this ​morning. ​You ​make ​the ​NCAA ​tournament, ​you ​can't ​pick ​up ​his ​phone ​calls ​anymore. ​That's ​Coach Boeheim. ​

McNamara: He ​sent ​me ​a ​text, ​like, ​'call ​me ​back, ​you ​bum.' ​You ​know? ​That's my guy ​that's ​my ​guy. ​I'm ​happy. It was pretty cool.

Field of 68

Gerry, did you tell him 'I don't ​work ​for ​you ​anymore. ​ ​I ​don't ​have ​to ​answer ​the ​phone ​anymore?'

McNamara: I ​was ​on ​his ​timeline ​for ​too ​long. ​It's ​my ​timeline now so I'm going to operate on my own time."

While McNamara and his Saints will learn their NCAA Tournament site and opponent during Sunday's bracket reveal, he will continue to be linked to the Syracuse job. Early reports have already indicated that he's a candidate for the position.

One of the most decorated players in SU history, McNamara had his No. 3 retired by Syracuse in 2023 after a stellar four-year career that saw him win a national championship in 2003 and earn three All-Big East selections. He was also a two-time All-Big East Tournament team member. 

He scored 2,099 career points and is second all-time in program history in steals. He spent 15 years on the staff before leaving for Siena and many fans want to see him get the job.

However, some fans are looking for a new angle to the program, wanting to break away from the Boeheim tree. That desire for real change could be the biggest thing working against McNamara as the hiring process goes on, however, with a championship now in his pocket at Siena, he's certainly showing his worthiness.

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