Syracuse’s exhibition slate is over, and Gerry McNamara isn’t pretending everything is fine.
The Orange finished 2-1, but the record came with plenty of uneven stretches and a roster still sorting itself out. Junior guard Aiden Tobiason, who is expected to provide a lot of production for Syracuse, was hurt in the exhibition loss to UConn earlier this month and sat out the next two games. Other players have also been dealing with minor injuries along the way.
That didn’t stop Syracuse from closing with a 71-58 win over Niagara on Saturday afternoon in Buffalo, N.Y. Before that, the Orange lost to Connecticut, 72-52, in Uncasville, Conn., and beat McNamara’s former team, Siena, 81-76, in Albany, N.Y.
Now the focus shifts to the regular season, which opens Monday, Nov. 2, when Syracuse hosts New Haven.
McNamara’s takeaway after the Niagara game was blunt. “I talked the last game (at Siena) about the decision-making when we were up 13,” McNamara said.
“It’s no different. It’s no different today.
We’ve got to get a lot better.”
That same theme showed up in the way the Orange let Niagara hang around. Syracuse led by 17 in the first half, but the Purple Eagles trimmed that margin to 33-26 at the break. The Orange still held a 52-48 edge with about eight minutes left before pulling away late for the 13-point win.
“When you have the 17-point lead again,” McNamara said, “some of the decisions we made, some of the shots we took, aren’t what we’re looking for. They're almost shot turnovers.”
There’s still time for this group to take shape, and that matters with so many new pieces in place. Syracuse’s 2026-27 roster includes transfers, international prospects and incoming freshmen from the United States, all under a new head coach and assistant staff.
The upside is easy to see in the size, depth and positional flexibility McNamara has to work with. What remains unclear is how the Orange will function in the half court, whether the shooting from deep will hold up and how many turnovers this team will give away.
What does seem more likely is a team that competes hard. Syracuse should bring effort, toughness and grit. If that translates into defense and rebounding, the Orange can build from there.
Against Niagara, Syracuse shot 44.8 percent from the field, 24.0 percent from 3-point range and 81.3 percent at the free-throw line. The foul-line work, at least, gave the Orange something to like.
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Syracuse Stunned UNC With A Comeback Fans Wont Forget
Syracuse left Kenan Stadium with a comeback that will linger in the memory of its fans, rallying past North Carolina in overtime after a game that swung back and forth late. The Orange had to absorb the sting of a missed extra point and then regroup after UNC forced a tie in the fourth quarter, but they kept finding answers when the pressure peaked.
Steve Angeli and Calvin Russell III were central to the finish, and both players made an impact after returning from Achilles injuries. The decisive moment came on a two-point try in overtime, when Angeli found Russell for the conversion, and the play stood after an official review to seal a win that felt every bit as dramatic as the setting. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Already Has A Point Guard Decision Fans Will Debate
Gerry McNamara has been sorting through his point guard options in exhibition play, and the early read gives Syracuse plenty to think about before the games start to count. Freshman Ryan Moesch has brought a noticeable spark, while senior Garwey Dual is still working his way back from injury and trying to find a steadier rhythm after an uneven start.
Duals case is built on more than just what he has shown in these exhibition minutes. Teammates and McNamara continue to point to his defense and his upside, and his role has grown gradually as he gets more time on the floor. Even so, the blend of Moeschs early impact and Duals experience gives Syracuse a real decision to sort through, one that figures to linger with fans well beyond the preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse May Have Finally Found Its ACC Turning Point
Syracuse walked out of Kenan Stadium with the kind of result that can change the feel of a season, edging North Carolina 31-30 in overtime to pick up its first ACC win in more than a year. It also snapped an 11-game conference losing streak, a long skid that had hung over the program for months and made every league game feel heavier than the last. There were contributors all over the field, including Steve Angeli, Calvin Russell, Ahmad Miller and Umari Hatcher, but the biggest moment belonged to a quarterback whose role had already been in flux.
Angeli, back in the lineup after being benched, delivered the play Syracuse needed most when he found Russell on the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime. For a team that has spent so much time searching for a foothold in the ACC, the timing of this win matters almost as much as the result itself. The challenge now is whether Syracuse can turn one tense road victory into something more durable, because this one finally gave the Orange a reason to believe the conference slide might be over. [Read more 🡒]