Syracuse had a chance to put its new-look men’s basketball group in front of the ACC spotlight on Wednesday, and two transfers plus Gerry McNamara helped give a clearer picture of what the Orange are building ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The program was among all 18 ACC men’s basketball teams represented at the league’s three-day Basketball Tip-Off event in Charlotte, N.C. Syracuse’s group featured McNamara along with Gavin Doty and Aiden Tobiason, with the team now moving toward its exhibition opener Tuesday night in Uncasville, Conn. against the UConn Huskies.
Doty’s presence stood out right away because his path back to Syracuse runs through both McNamara and home. The 6-foot-5 forward from Fulton, N.Y. spent two seasons with McNamara at Siena before following him to the Orange.
Doty was a First-Team All-MAAC selection and helped Siena reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in more than 15 years last season, when the Saints came close to knocking off No. 1 Duke in the Round of 64.
For Doty, this move clearly means more than just a change of uniform. He said of putting on Syracuse colors, “It’s a blessing. I’ve been going to Syracuse games since I was three years old.”
He also fits the profile of a player Syracuse is counting on to matter right away, even if he’s projected to come off the bench. Doty played at G. Ray Bodley High in Fulton, N.Y., and his return to Central New York gives the Orange a familiar face with a defined role.
Tobiason brings a different kind of punch. The Delaware native spent two seasons at Temple, where he appeared in 32 games and averaged 15.3 points on 48.0 percent shooting.
He added 3.7 rebounds and two assists per game and earned All-Freshman team honors in the AAC in 2024-25. Like Doty, he’s part of a transfer group that should shape Syracuse’s debut under this roster makeup.
Tobiason said he spent time over the summer working on his ability to handle the ball and operate with more responsibility on the perimeter. “I was playing point (guard) a lot over the summer, trying to make reads faster, just playing more on the ball.”
That development matters for a Syracuse team that could use more playmaking from multiple spots. Garwey Dual, a transfer from McNeese State, could also see time at point guard, giving the Orange another option to mix and match.
McNamara also made clear that building this roster has looked different from what many programs around the country are doing. At Siena, after two seasons that included a MAAC championship, he was able to bring four players with him from that group: Doty, Francis Folefac, Tasman “Tazzie” Goodrick and Siena commit Ryan Moesch. That familiarity could pay off quickly, since McNamara already knows what those players bring and how they operate.
Doty, Tobiason and McNamara are scheduled to return to Central New York for the team’s media session on Friday afternoon.
In Other News...
Syracuse Faces A New Quarterback Test Fran Brown Couldn't Avoid
Fran Brown had little choice but to reshuffle the quarterback picture this week, with Syracuse set to turn to Malachi Nelson against Virginia after injuries knocked Amari Odom and Steve Angeli out of the mix. Odom is listed as doubtful with a shoulder injury, while Angeli is already out, leaving the Orange to pivot to a passer with plenty of pedigree but still a lot to prove in this setting.
Nelson arrives with the kind of rsum that keeps coaches intrigued, a former top recruit who has already moved through multiple schools before landing at Syracuse. Now the Orange need him to stabilize a position that has suddenly become fragile, and the timing makes this more than just another lineup change. For Brown, it is a quarterback decision he could not dodge, and for Nelson it is another chance to show he can handle a stage that has been waiting for him. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Faces A Sudden QB Twist Ahead Of Virginia
Syracuses quarterback picture took a sudden turn heading into Virginia, with Amari Odom downgraded to doubtful and Steve Angeli ruled out. That leaves Malachi Nelson expected to take the first snaps for the Orange, a significant shift at a position that had already been under the spotlight as the team prepared for a key ACC matchup.
The changes do not stop there. Running back Shavane Anderson Jr. has been ruled out, while linebacker Antoine Deslauriers and defensive back Nazir Ward are both listed as questionable, adding more uncertainty on both sides of the ball. For a Syracuse team trying to steady itself before kickoff, the injury report has turned into a major part of the story. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Heads Into Virginia With A New Question At Quarterback
A week that already carried plenty of uncertainty around Syracuses offense now seems set to put Malachi Nelson back in the spotlight. With Amari Odom listed as doubtful and Steve Angeli ruled out on the latest injury report, the Orange are expected to turn to Nelson at quarterback when they visit Virginia, giving the former top high school recruit another chance to steer the attack.
It will be Nelsons seventh collegiate start, a reminder of how much experience he has picked up even as the search for stability continues at the position. Syracuse has been navigating injuries at quarterback all week, and the trip to Virginia now brings a fresh layer of pressure, with the Orange needing Nelson to settle in quickly and give the offense a workable rhythm. [Read more 🡒]