Goz is joined by Mike Lindsley to discuss that and more involving the news of Gerry McNamara's recent hiring as head coach.
Now that Gerry McNamara has been named the Syracuse men's basketball coach, Orange fans are hopefully optimistic about what the future of the program could look like.
What are realistic expectations for the Orange? Syracuse has currently missed the NCAA tournament a program record five consecutive seasons. Orange fans have not been able to watch the team compete in NCAA tournament action in an arena since 2019 (Syracuse's last appearance in 2021 was held without fans in attendance).
Earlier this week I had a conversation with Syracuse reporter and podcast host Mike Lindsley, as he joined me as a guest on Levack and Goz, my daily sports talk radio show for Fox Sports 95.9/980.
Lindsley's media career spans three decades covering Syracuse basketball.
Mike's take on realistic expectations for McNamara
"Syracuse basketball has to be an at-large bid most of the time. Can they go on the conference tournament run? Of course they can. But this ACC thing has been brutal. I mean, I know they've been to the Final Four in '15-'16, the Sweet 16 2018, 2021, fine. But overall, Goz, you know, they've been leaking and kind of around that mid-tier, that, that mediocre thing. But if you're telling me top third in NIL and you're telling me that Carmelo (Anthony) and Gerry (McNamara) are on the phone and Carmelo's like, 'yo, Kiyan's (Anthony, Carmelo's son and current freshman on Syracuse roster) back,' boom, there's one.
Sadiq White's back. You're telling me (Tyler) Betsy's off the bench banging threes and you're telling me that Gerry McNamara is running the ship and you're telling me that Doty's (Gavin Doty, current Siena basketball player) coming, who by the way is from Fulton High School. His girlfriend is committed to lacrosse at Lemoyne. And then also maybe a couple others straggling from the East, there in New York State. If you're giving me that roster and maybe a couple question marks with others, and Gerry McNamara is that dude— people, relationship, cultures, cues, doesn't let anything fail, and he is a freaking competitor. Year one NCAA tournament, that's the expectation because that is what it is anyway. And if McNamara is here, that's the stamp right there. You have to say that. You have to."
Mike and I delve into if Ryan Blackwell will join McNamara's staff at Syracuse or if he will become the next head coach for the Siena Saints. Is Syracuse competing with other Northeast schools like Siena and St. Bonaventure for coaches? To hear the complete the conversation, check out the video above.
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