Syracuse’s men’s basketball season is almost here, and EvanMiya’s latest numbers paint a pretty clear early picture: the Orange have work to do before the real games start.
The metric opens Syracuse at No. 57 nationally and 10th in the ACC, with that outlook built on the assumption that players with pending eligibility cases, including transfer Amarri Monroe, are ruled ineligible. In the conference pecking order, Syracuse lands behind Duke (No.
1), Louisville (No. 8), Miami (No.
15), Virginia (No. 18), North Carolina (No.
38), Clemson (No. 43), NC State (No.
45), Virginia Tech (No. 47), and SMU (No. 53).
Right behind Syracuse are Florida State at No. 62, Pittsburgh at No. 71, and Notre Dame at No.
- EvanMiya also slots the Orange at No. 62 on offense and No. 64 on defense to begin the year.
If any player in “eligibility limbo” is ultimately cleared to suit up, Syracuse would move up to No. 61, according to the projection.
The bigger issue for the Orange may be what comes before ACC play. If Syracuse wants to build a tournament-worthy resume, it will need to make the most of its non-conference schedule.
EvanMiya has the ACC as the fifth-best league in college basketball, behind the SEC, Big 12, Big Ten, and Big East, and Syracuse’s non-conference slate includes four opponents ranked in the top 50: St. John’s at No.
34, Oklahoma at No. 42, Indiana at No. 44, and Providence at No.
There is one caveat attached to those opponent rankings: if the eligibility cases break the other way, St. John’s and Oklahoma would jump to No. 9 and No. 28, respectively, while Indiana and Providence would both slide just outside the top 50.
On an individual level, EvanMiya sees McNeese transfer guard Garwey Dual as Syracuse’s top player heading into 2026-27. He is also the only Orange player projected inside the top 100.
Two other Syracuse names make the top 500: Siena transfer guard Gavin Doty at No. 453 and sophomore forward Sadiq White Jr. at No. 460.
Syracuse gets its first live action less than a month from now with an exhibition against UConn, and the Gerry McNamara Era officially begins at home on November 2 against New Haven.
In Other News...
Syracuse's Quarterback Situation Just Got A Lot More Uncomfortable
Syracuses quarterback conversation took a sharp turn in the loss to Pittsburgh, when Steve Angeli was pulled late after a rough second half changed the tone of the game. Angeli had looked steady early, completing 11 of 18 passes for 155 yards in the first half, but the offense stalled after halftime and the momentum shifted with it.
Fran Brown turned to Amari Odom after Angeli threw two fourth-quarter interceptions, and the late change added another layer of uncertainty to a position that already carries plenty of attention. For Syracuse, the issue is no longer just about one bad stretch in one game, but how Brown handles the spot moving forward if the inconsistency carries over. [Read more 🡒]
Fran Brown Is Facing A Syracuse Problem Fans Know Too Well
After Syracuses recent loss, Fran Brown spent part of his latest public comments trying to steer the conversation toward the bigger picture, leaning on the off-field traits he values and the development he believes his program is building. He also took questions about the teams DART concept and the penalties that have become part of the frustration surrounding the Orange, a reminder that the on-field issues are still difficult to separate from the message Brown is trying to sell.
For fans, the larger concern is familiar: they can appreciate a coachs culture talk and still want a direct accounting for what happened in the game. Brown now has to manage both sides of that equation, keeping faith in his program philosophy while showing enough accountability to satisfy a base that has seen too many disappointing outcomes already. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Just Got Two Early National Tests That Will Frame Both Seasons
The early nonconference calendar for Syracuses basketball programs is starting to take shape, and it brings a clear measuring-stick week in December. ESPN has unveiled the schedule and TV assignments for the fourth annual SEC/ACC Challenge, giving both the mens and womens teams a high-profile matchup with Oklahoma that should draw plenty of attention well before league play begins.
For the women, the Sooners will come to Syracuse on Dec. 3, while the men head to Oklahoma two days earlier on Dec. 1. The full slate of games and broadcast details is now set, and for both Orange teams, these are the kinds of early tests that can sharpen a seasons identity and offer an immediate read on where each roster stands. [Read more 🡒]