Syracuse’s Nov. 15 meeting with St. John’s has quickly become the kind of game that tells you a lot more than the final score. It’s a rivalry renewal, a measuring stick and a chance for Gerry McNamara to walk back into Madison Square Garden with his own team after years of talking about getting there.
McNamara said months ago that he wanted to return to the Garden, and this week the matchup was locked in for Nov. 15.
That date matters for Syracuse for plenty of reasons, but none bigger than the setting. McNamara helped lead the Orange to a conference tournament title there in 2006, when Syracuse entered as a No. 9 seed and rattled off four wins in four days to grab an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
That run put Syracuse in the record book. The McNamara-led Orange became the first team in Big East tournament history to win four games in four days, and they still stand as the lowest seed ever to win the Big East Tournament. UConn matched that feat in 2011.
Now McNamara gets a new shot at the same building, this time as head coach, with St. John’s on the other bench.
The matchup brings plenty of layers with it. Syracuse and St.
John’s built a real rivalry during their Big East days, and the Red Storm have climbed back into relevance over the last two seasons by reaching the NCAA Tournament both years. Syracuse, meanwhile, is still chasing an end to its longest NCAA Tournament drought ever.
The Orange have not been in the field since 2021.
The rosters add even more intrigue. Kyle Cuffe, a Harlem native, left Syracuse this offseason to sign with Rick Pitino and St.
John’s. Cuffe spent two seasons in Central New York, appeared in 59 games and averaged 4.2 points per game under Adrian Autry.
Donnie Freeman is also on the St. John’s roster, though he is unlikely to play in 2026-27 after suffering an injury earlier this year. Freeman was the best player on the Orange over the last two seasons.
Pitino’s presence only sharpens the spotlight. He is a Hall of Fame coach and also a former Syracuse assistant from 1976-78.
The last time Syracuse and St. John’s met at Madison Square Garden was in December 2015.
St. John’s won that game 84-72, and some fans may remember it most for Jim Boeheim not being on the sideline because of an NCAA suspension.
For Syracuse, the stakes around this one are easy to see. A win over St.
John’s could help settle the question of whether the Orange still sit atop New York men’s basketball and whether top high school players in the state still view Syracuse as the better choice over St. John’s.
It would also give the Orange a valuable non-conference result for their NCAA Tournament case.
That’s why Nov. 15 stands out as the biggest game of the season for Syracuse right now, even if it won’t be the biggest one by the time the full ACC schedule plays out in 2027.
In Other News...
Syracuse Was Part Of A Frightening Moment UConn Fans Feared
A frightening scene unfolded during UConns game when wide receiver Javon Brown took a heavy hit in the end zone and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher with a neck brace. It was the kind of moment that stops everyone in their tracks, and both sidelines responded in kind as players and coaches from both teams showed support for Brown after the collision.
The encouraging update came later from coach Jason Candle, who said Brown is doing well after passing neurological tests, leaving the hospital and rejoining the team. For Syracuse fans, it was a reminder that even in the middle of a game, some moments matter far more than the scoreboard, and this one thankfully appears to have turned toward relief instead of something far worse. [Read more 🡒]
Gerry McNamaras Syracuse Plan Hinges On One Early Test
Syracuse enters the season with a fresh set of questions, and Gerry McNamaras first roster build is drawing plenty of attention for the right reasons. Seth Greenberg pointed to culture, retention and upside as the basics that can give the Orange a chance, while also noting how important the Siena transfers McNamara brought with him could be in helping steady the program early.
The real early test, though, comes down to whether that mix can take hold quickly enough to matter in ACC play. Greenberg also flagged the potential growth of young players such as Sadiq White, Kiyan Anthony and Mark Morano Mahmutovic, and if Syracuse is going to make McNamaras plan work, those developments may need to show up sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Gets Another Chance To Prove Oddsmakers Wrong
Syracuse heads into this weekend with another modest line attached to it, listed as 6.5-point underdogs by FanDuel against Virginia. The setup is familiar for a team that has already shown it can make a number look shaky, most recently by pulling out an overtime win against an opponent with Amari Odom starting in place of Steve Angeli.
Virginia comes in at 3-2 and is trying to bounce back from a loss to Florida State, so there is enough on paper to suggest a competitive game. For Syracuse, though, the bigger question is whether it can again turn skepticism into leverage and give oddsmakers another reason to rethink where this group belongs. [Read more 🡒]