Orange You Glad? Syracuse is Finally Back

Syracuse fans were accustomed to success during the Jim Boeheim era. From making unprecedented runs to the Final Four to winning many Big East titles and even a National Championship in 2003, Boeheim was successful – and the Orange fan base was pleased.

When Boeheim announced his retirement, it set the stage for long-time assistant Adrian Autry to take the reins. In three seasons, though, Autry wasn’t able to climb the mountain, with 49 wins to 48 losses across his tenure. A lackluster few years led to Autry departing the program, paving the way for a familiar face to return: Enter Gerry McNamara, a proven winner fresh off building up an NCAA tournament-bound Siena program in two years as the head coach en route to his alma mater in the same position.

“I’m here to win,” McNamara exclaimed as thunderous applause rained down around his introductory press conference. The ex-Syracuse assistant coach assured Orange fans that they will soon see victories.

Those four words from McNamara embody why Syracuse basketball will finally be back in the tournament this year for the first time since 2021. McNamara is no stranger to success at the Dome, and the head coaching job for the Orange is not one for first-timers.

McNamara’s winning pedigree, recruiting of key players to Siena, and being a well-respected figure across Central New York will get just about any Syracuse fan excited. The older audiences can reconnect with a nostalgic figure from the illustrious 2003 championship run that was lights out from the three-point arc, while the younger generation gets to experience great recruiting and energy that embodies everything Syracuse basketball has stood for for generations.

Big names are wanting to come to Syracuse again as well. Although Autry brought in top recruits like Donnie Freeman, Kiyan Anthony and Sadiq White, the coaching and development of his prized possessions were not there. But McNamara, who had been recruiting and developing talent at a mid-major in Siena, has shown that where Autry faltered is where he’ll find success.

McNamara has both Anthony and White returning, as well as local product Gavin Doty. Recruiting locally was a struggle for Autry, as seen with former Syracuse guard JJ Starling committing to Notre Dame before transferring back home. When Syracuse can recruit locally, it builds up the community and campus connections, and gives a sleeping fan base much more incentive to watch the local products succeed.

According to respected college basketball analyst Evan Miyakawa, the Orange hold the 8th ranked transfer class for the current offseason as well. Big names are coming to Syracuse via the transfer portal alongside Doty, like Garway Duel and Aiden Tobiason.

It takes more than just recruiting to make the tournament, though. Syracuse will have winnable games against signature teams next season. Providence and Indiana are two teams the Orange are rumored to play early in the non-conference season, and the team will also be a part of the ACC/SEC challenge once again. A majority of the opponents for this non-conference stretch still haven’t been announced, but opportunities are still there for the Orange to get some quality competition early that may help their metrics come March.

This list doesn’t even account for the conference games next year, where Syracuse will almost certainly be facing off with many stellar ACC programs like North Carolina, Duke, Louisville, Virginia, and other potential surprises as the year unfolds.

Although internal expectations are prevalent within the Syracuse basketball circle, the external ones seem just as high. Reporters within the college basketball world are also showing optimism in the Syracuse-of-old returning. Jon Rothstein, who submits a power ranking of the top 45 teams in the nation, ranked Syracuse at 42. Even with a great recruiting and transfer class prior to the 2025-2026 college basketball season, the Orange didn’t even sniff Rothstein’s list.

Syracuse basketball is fully back. For the first time in quite a while, optimism surrounds the Orange’s status as an NCAA Tournament participant.