Syracuse gets its second game under new coach Gerry McNamara on Thursday night, and the Orange will try to keep the early momentum rolling when Central Connecticut State comes to town.
Tipoff is set for Thursday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. ET.
Fans looking to stream the game for free can do so through FuboTV’s free trial, which includes ACC Network X in its “Pro” package. That package costs $88.99, and the trial begins after creating an account.
The Orange opened McNamara’s tenure with a 74-58 win over New Haven, and the start was every bit as sharp as Syracuse could have hoped. The team raced out to an 18-0 lead, kept the Chargers without a field goal on their first 12 attempts and took a 39-17 cushion into halftime. Syracuse also stretched the margin to as many as 28 points.
A few new faces made their presence felt in the opener. Sophomore Kiyan Anthony led the way off the bench with 17 points.
Gavin Doty added 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Sadiq White Jr. chipped in 14 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. Syracuse also took care of the ball, finishing with 15 assists and only five turnovers.
Central Connecticut State arrives at 0-1 after a 68-56 loss to Temple. Ashton Reynolds paced the Blue Devils with 18 points off the bench. The Blue Devils are coming off an 18-12 season in which they shot 47.1% from the field and 36.8% from 3-point range.
For Syracuse, this is another chance to sharpen McNamara’s rotation before the schedule gets tougher.
In Other News...
Syracuse's Costly Clemson Confusion Came Down To One Crucial Rule
A late-half clock management lesson turned into a costly moment for Syracuse during its game with Clemson, when quarterback Steve Angeli ran a play with two seconds left instead of spiking the ball. The confusion stemmed from a little-known rule that prevents spikes with less than three seconds remaining, a detail that even the broadcast team and some players appeared not to have fully grasped in the moment.
For the Orange, it was the kind of sequence that can swing a half because the margin for error is so small. The takeaway is straightforward but unforgiving: after a first down, players need to get down immediately if they want any chance of preserving time for another snap, because once the clock gets that low, the spike is no longer an option. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Let Clemson Hang Around Until One Brutal Mistake Changed Everything
Syracuse had the kind of game at the JMA Wireless Dome where every possession felt magnified, and for long stretches the Orange did enough defensively to keep Clemson within reach. The atmosphere was lively before kickoff too, with the ACC Networks ACC Huddle setting up on Syracuses Shaw Quadrangle, but once the game settled in it turned into the sort of tight, physical ACC fight that often comes down to who makes the fewest mistakes.
Steve Angeli and the Syracuse offense never found much rhythm through the air, and the turnovers eventually became too costly to survive in an 18-13 loss. The critical turning point came on a backward pass that Clemson turned into a defensive touchdown, a brutal swing in a game where Syracuse had spent so much time hanging around and giving itself a chance. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Turns Clemson Visit Into A Huge Recruiting Test
Hosting Clemson is always a measuring-stick moment, but Syracuse is also turning the matchup into a recruiting showcase. A large group of prospects will be on campus, giving the Orange a chance to sell the program in person while the spotlight is brightest. Several visitors have already come away with positive impressions of the facilities, the coaching staff and the culture around the program, which is exactly the kind of early momentum Syracuse wants when it is trying to make a strong impression.
Quarterbacks Twigg and Davis, along with athlete Shuford, are among the recruits who have been in contact with Syracuse coaches throughout the process, and those conversations have helped shape their view of the program. The visit gives the Orange a chance to build on that interest, but the bigger question is how much traction Syracuse can turn from a high-profile weekend like this one, especially with so many prospects watching the same stage. [Read more 🡒]
