The Orange are continuing to build out their schedule under first-year head coach Gerry McNamara.
We are just three months (Nov. 2) from the start of the Syracuse men's basketball season, which will mark the official start of the Gerry McNamara-era.
McNamara, the former SU standout, was hired this past March after a successful two-year stint at Siena, where he led the Saints to the NCAA Tournament last season.
Syracuse fired previous head coach Adrian Autry after three lackluster seasons, including a 15-17 record in 2025-26. The Orange haven't been to the NCAA Tournament in the last five years and McNamara is looking to restore the program to a national contender.
As the summer rolls on, we are continuing to nuggets about McNamara's program, most notably on the schedule.
It was announced on Friday that Syracuse will host Mercyhurst at the JMA Wireless Dome on Dec. 12, which is one of many non-conference games that have been announced to this point.
About the schedule so far
--The Orange will open up the season on Nov. 2, at home, against New Haven.
--Later that week, SU will host Central Connecticut State (Nov. 5).
--The Orange will go to Indianapolis to take on Indiana on Nov. 9.
--Syracuse will host Lafayette on Nov. 21.
--SU will travel to Oklahoma on Dec. 1 as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.
Syracuse Orange forward Sadiq White Jr. (0) reaches for the ball in the second half at Spectrum Center. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images--The Orange return home on Dec. 8 to take on Colgate.
--They'll then play Mercyhurst on Dec 12. and Canisius on Dec. 16, both at home.
--The group will play Providence, in Boston, on Dec. 19.
--Binghamton comes to town on Dec. 22, right before the Christmas holiday.
What other questions need to be answered?
Syracuse is supposed to play old-rival St. John's at Madison Square Garden, though the matchup hasn't been confirmed and no date has been given at this time.
Beyond that, Syracuse is waiting for the full announcement on the ACC schedule. We know who SU is playing and where, but we don't know the order and game times yet.
The information above accounts for nine non-conference games, so there should still be a few more announcements to come. McNamara's team is supposed to play in-state foe Albany as well, though that matchup also hasn't been confirmed.
Looking ahead
We are just three weeks or so away from the start of the academic year, which means we are closer and closer to the beginning of the college hoops season. After going 15-17 last year, the Orange are generating some nice preseason buzz.
