Syracuse's basketball season is already being projected to finish better than last season.
The Syracuse men's basketball program is hopeful to find more success this upcoming season. The past five seasons have ranked as some of the worst, performance-wise in school history, as SU has not been selected to the NCAA Tournament for five consecutive seasons, a school record. The Orange have not played a tournament game in front of fans in over seven years (Syracuse played in the 2021 tournament, but no fans were allowed to be in attendance due to COVID-19 protocols)
New head coach Gerry McNamara found previous success in his second season as the head coach of the Siena Saints, which earned him the job at Syracuse.
After an off-season of coaching, administrative, and roster changes, the Orange basketball team is gaining national praise and recognition for the upcoming season.
What is national perception of the Orange?
Earlier this week, national basketball reporter Jon Rothstein posted his way-too-early ACC preseason power rankings. He's got the Orange ranked seventh in the 18-team conference.
The No. 7 spot would be an improvement from the Orange's 13th place finish last season. If the Orange do match Rothstein's projections and finish 7th, a return to the NCAA Tournament is possible, but not guaranteed.
Seven schools from the ACC were selected for the 2019 and 2021 tournaments, however the amount of ACC teams has fluctuated over the last decade.
Last year's NCAA tournament saw eight teams represent the conference in the Big Dance. The ACC had even more teams represent the conference in the 2017 tournament when nine teams were selected.
However only five teams appeared from the ACC in '22, '23 and '24. (The 2020 NCAA tournament was cancelled due to COVID-19)
What player was also noted as ACC Breakout Player?
Rothstein also projected that Sadiq White is a breakout player for the ACC this season.
Last season marked White's debut season in college basketball. The 6-foot-9 White averaged over six points and three rebounds per game in 31 games. The rising sophomore elected to return to Central New York, rather than transfer or enter the NBA Draft.
Our assessment
I agree with Rothstein's assessment with the Orange. The teams ranking above the Orange have been more consistent in comparison to Syracuse over the past five seasons and each of those teams were NCAA Tournament qualifying teams in 2026. The 11 teams ranking below Syracuse have some questions involving starting lineups and team chemistry. McNamara's squad may be filled with new players, but many of them were contributors to an NCAA tournament competitive team in the Siena Saints. Gavin Doty is chief among them.
What does the Orange roster look like this season?
White is scheduled to joined by 11 new teammates this season. Along with White, only Kiyan Anthony and Noah Lobdell return from last season's roster.
Guards: #7 Kiyan Anthony, #23 Noah Lobdell, #4 Gavin Doty, #25 Aiden Tobiason, #3 Garwey Dual, #0 Ryan Moesch, #2 Ethan Butler
Forwards: #1 Sadiq White Jr., #6 Calvin Russell III, #5 Tasman Goodrick, #12 Mark Morano Mahmutovič, #11 Francis Folefac
Center: #23 Luke Wilson #10 Abdramane Siby #13 Iker Martinez
What are the confirmed games on Syracuse basketball schedule?
--The team's first home regular season game will be against New Haven on Nov. 2
--The Orange will also play Central Connecticut State later that week, at home, on Nov. 5.
--Syracuse will play inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis against Indiana on Nov. 9.
--SU will host Lafayette on Nov. 21.
--As a part of the ACC/SEC Challenge, the Orange will take on Oklahoma on Dec 1. That game will be in Norman, Okla.
--Syracuse will host Colgate on Dec. 8.
--Syracuse will play against Canisius on Dec. 16 at the JMA Wireless Dome.
--In a revival of an old BIG EAST matchup, the Orange will play Providence in Boston at the TD Garden on Dec. 19.
An announced game against St. John's, plus all conference games dates and times, have yet to be confirmed.
