Syracuse’s preseason opener didn’t hand anyone a reason to breathe easy about the Orange offense.
The 72-52 loss to UConn on Tuesday is the kind of exhibition result that should be filed away with caution, since these games are built for conditioning, tinkering and getting a new group on the same page. But the deeper concern wasn’t the 20-point margin. It was the way Syracuse played while getting there.
The numbers were rough across the board: 30.6 percent shooting from the field, 21.1 percent from 3-point range and 64.3 percent at the line. The Orange also turned it over 16 times and never really settled into a rhythm. Sadiq White was the only Syracuse player to finish in double figures.
That kind of offensive showing puts the spotlight squarely on Gerry McNamara, because this roster is clearly going to have to manufacture points through structure, movement and smarter possessions. Syracuse isn’t trying to survive in the old Big East grind anymore, either.
The college game has shifted hard toward scoring, and McNamara’s own playing days came in a much different era. In his final season at Syracuse, the 2005-06 campaign, 12 teams averaged at least 80 points per game.
Last season, that number was 82. The expectation now is simple: you have to put points on the board.
And that’s where the roster construction starts to matter. On paper, this is a talented group, but a lot of the value tilts to the defensive end. McNamara did not land a proven ball-handler and distributor in the transfer portal, leaving questions about who will consistently organize the offense.
Senior transfer guard Garwey Dual brings defensive impact, but his offensive game is more limited. Freshman Ryan Moesch can knock down 3s, though he still needs time as a passer. Those two look like the most likely options to handle traditional point guard duties for Syracuse this season.
There is still room for the offense to grow naturally as the group gets more reps together. Continuity matters, and the Orange did not get much of it Tuesday because Aiden Tobiason left early with an injury and Mark Morano did not play. Both can create their own shot, and Tobiason, in particular, has already shown he can shoot the 3 well from his Temple days.
So while it would be a mistake to treat one exhibition as a verdict, the UConn game did sharpen the question Syracuse has to answer. The next test comes against Siena, McNamara’s old school, and that matchup should give the Orange a cleaner chance to run their offense. If the shooting stays cold and the turnovers keep piling up, expectations for this team may need a hard reset before the regular season even starts.
In Other News...
Syracuse Has A Kicking Problem Fran Brown Cant Ignore
Syracuses kicking game has become one of the clearest problem spots in a season where little margin already exists. The Orange have missed more field goals per game than anyone in the Football Bowl Subdivision this season, and the issue showed up again in a recent loss that included missed kicks and a botched punt. Fran Brown said after the game that the special teams struggles were part of what went wrong, and the staff is now trying to steady a unit that has repeatedly left points on the field.
Freshman Shay Barker has been named the starting kicker going forward, giving Syracuse at least some clarity at a position that has been in flux. Even with that decision, the bigger question is whether the Orange can turn enough of those scoring chances into points to change outcomes in close games. In a season where every possession matters, the kicking game has stopped being a side note and become something Brown cant afford to keep watching unfold. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Heads Into Louisville With One Problem Nobody Trusts
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For Syracuse, that kind of consensus puts the spotlight on a problem that has lingered all season. The quarterback situation has been unsettled, and against a Louisville team viewed as dangerous on offense, every small mistake becomes a larger issue. It leaves the Orange heading into the matchup with little outside confidence and a lot to prove before anyone is willing to trust them in a game like this. [Read more 🡒]
Carmelo Anthony Just Gave Syracuse Fans Another Reason To Feel Close
Carmelo Anthony keeps finding ways to stay connected to Central New York, and his latest move feels especially personal. The former Syracuse star recently bought a nearly 60-acre property in Brookfield, New York, giving him a rural retreat that includes a farmhouse, cabins, a chalet and a large pond with recreational features.
Anthony shared a video giving fans a look at the place, and his son Kiyan said the purchase was meant to serve as a family retreat. For Syracuse supporters who still claim Carmelo as one of their own, it is another reminder that the bond between Anthony and the region has never really gone away. [Read more 🡒]