Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse basketball has completed its dress rehearsals and is set to open the 2025-26 season on Monday night against Binghamton in the JMA Wireless Dome.
The big question, once again: Will Syracuse make the NCAA Tournament?
The Orange has whiffed in four-straight seasons, the program’s longest drought since missing it from 1967 through 1972.
Can third-year coach Adrian Autry, with a revamped roster featuring 11 new players, steer the Orange back to March Madness?
Our staff tackles that question and more in our season predictions.
Regular-season record
Brent Axe: 21-10
Are NCAA Tournament paths charted in November and December or February and March?
SU’s five-game stretch from Nov. 24 to Dec. 11 (Houston, Kansas, TBD in Las Vegas, Tennessee and St. Joseph’s) is crucial if it wants the games in February and March to be as “meaningful” as SU AD John Wildhack wishes.
Syracuse sunk its season with seven losses before the new year last season. It simply cannot pile up that many this year if the Orange wants to be in the NCAA Tournament conversation this year.
Chris Carlson: 19-12
This is the most talented team that Adrian Autry has had during his time at Syracuse, so I’m expecting the best record yet but I don’t anticipate a smooth road for either the unproven coach or the untested roster.
The Orange hasn’t had a roster that ranks better than 85th in Ken Pomeroy’s adjusted defensive efficiency rankings yet.
Bad defense lowers the ceiling of what a team is capable of, and while I think this group has defensive potential, there were a lot of leaks during the exhibition games with a lot of initial pressure from excellent athletes but limited cohesiveness behind it.
Syracuse has the potential to be coached-up into a better effort but after four years without an NCAA Tournament bid (and six years without a good defense), I’ve reached the prove-it stage with this program rather than simply expecting good things to happen.
Donna Ditota: 18-14
Mike Waters: 19-12
It’s possible that this team could come together and compile 20 or more wins, but after watching the first two exhibition games, I’m not convinced of that yet.
Is Syracuse really ready to compete with the likes of Houston, Kansas and Tennessee in the non-conference portion of the schedule? How likely is a road upset of a Duke or a Louisville?
Syracuse Orange guard Naithan George (11) against the Pace Setters in an exhibition game at the JMA Wireless Dome Wednesday, October 29, 2025, in Syracuse, NY.
Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com
Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.comMost important player
Brent Axe: Naithan George
With so many new faces on the team, someone has to bring order to the court. George, who was second in the ACC with 221 assists last season, will show what a true point guard can really do.
Chris Carlson: Naithan George
Syracuse has a lot of interesting parts with a lot of talent but some warts to work around. JJ Starling is a tremendous driver but isn’t a tremendous shooter. Donnie Freeman is a mismatch but is going to fare better when he gets the ball close to the basket rather than driving from behind the 3-point arc. The centers are bouncy but offensively limited. Sadiq White Jr. is really fun – and I think will be my favorite player to watch – but he doesn’t have a refined offensive game yet.
George is going to have to be the gel that makes all of that fit together. The Orange also doesn’t have a great option if something happens to him.
Donna Ditota: Sadiq White
I almost always say the point guard is the most important player on any team, but this year for me it’s Sadiq White.
I write this after watching two lackluster, oddly joyless exhibition games. Syracuse needs a spark. And White is that spark. The two 3-point shots he made against Pace (a Division II team) were a bonus. What he provides in terms of energy, rebounding, defense and finishing at the rim will go a long way toward how this team performs.
Mike Waters: Naithan George
JJ Starling and Donnie Freeman will be the two leading scorers, but the most important player will be Naithan George.
Syracuse needed an upgrade at the point guard position and the SU coaches sought out George in the transfer portal. The former Georgia Tech guard led the ACC in assists last year and also averaged 12 points per game.
Syracuse needs George to be the floor leader, the guy who makes sure that Starling and Freeman are getting the ball where they can be most effective.
Syracuse Orange guard JJ Starling (2) and Syracuse Orange forward Sadiq White Jr. (0) celebrate a play against the Pace Setters in an exhibition game at the JMA Wireless Dome Wednesday, October 29, 2025, in Syracuse, NY.
Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com
Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.comNewcomer to watch
Brent Axe: Sadiq White
Take your pick on this squad with 11 new players wearing “Hello, my name is ___” tags.
Kiyan Anthony is the easy pick here. Tyler Betsey has flashed with his shooting ability in preseason practices and exhibitions. Nate Kingz has a pure stroke from the outside.
But I believe it is young Sadiq White, with his explosive athleticism, dedication to defense and infectious personality that is going to win out in this category.
Chris Carlson: Sadiq White
White is a throwback to the good old days for Syracuse basketball fans, when the Orange was recruiting players who were among the most athletic in the country. He is a rangy, bouncy forward with nearly unmatched athleticism, and he plays exceptionally hard. His energy is going to improve Syracuse’s defense immensely. Enjoy him while he is here.
Donna Ditota: Naithan George
Hmmm. Here’s where I point to the point guard. Naithan George has to have a good season. It’s really as simple as that. There’s nobody else on the roster ready to assume that position. And while, yes, it puts a lot of pressure on him, that’s why Syracuse brought him here. He needs to be elite.
Mike Waters: Sadiq White
I know everyone is hyped about Kiyan Anthony. Listen, I get it. Not only is Anthony an exciting offensive player, but he’s also the son of the legendary Carmelo Anthony.
But I’m predicting that Syracuse fans are going to love Sadiq White. The 6-foot-8 freshman is the bounciest of athletes. He might be the best dunker at Syracuse since Jerami Grant was showing off his hops a decade ago.
White scored 14 points in SU’s exhibition against Pace and his first four buckets were on a variety of slam dunks.
Bold prediction
Brent Axe: Syracuse will upset Tennessee in the JMA Dome
Chris Carlson: Adrian Autry’s job status will come into question
We’re going to spend the final two months of this season debating what athletic director John Wildhack meant when he said he expects Syracuse to be playing “meaningful games in March.”
The Orange is going to be better during Autry’s third season, but it almost always takes a big non-conference win to make the NCAA Tournament, and Syracuse’s opportunity games come against some of the toughest teams in the country and will be too much of a test.
The Orange will fall on the wrong side of the bubble, leaving a lot of uncertainty about the future of the program.
Donna Ditota: Donnie Freeman plays a lot of “center”
Moving him to the middle frees Syracuse to play him with Sadiq White. It’s going to be a tough call when the opposing team has a big, dominant center, but SU’s two big men are liabilities at the free throw line. It’s hard to play guys in close, tough games when they likely will draw fouls (both are aggressive players) but can’t convert at the line.
Mike Waters: Donnie Freeman plays at an All-ACC level
Donnie Freeman is going to blossom into an All-ACC caliber player this season. The 6-9 forward can shoot the 3 but needs to understand that his combination of height and lift enables him to get off his shot in the lane and in the post. He’s unstoppable there.
He scored 22 points in the win over Pace and hit just one 3. He was 8-for-12 on shots inside the arc.
The Syracuse coaching staff watches against the Pace Setters in an exhibition game at the JMA Wireless Dome Wednesday, October 29, 2025, in Syracuse, NY.
Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com
Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.comSyracuse’s postseason finish
Brent Axe: Second-round loss in the ACC tournament
I can’t shake the feeling that this team may have a similar fate as Wake Forest last season. A good overall and ACC record (Wake was 21-11, 13-7 last year) but get left out of the NCAA Tournament field.
That will create some interesting discussions in the NCAA-Tournament-or-bust crowd related to Adrian Autry’s job status.
Chris Carlson: Wrong side of the NCAA tournament bubble
Donna Ditota: Outside the NCAA Tournament field
The team I saw in two exhibition games will not make the NCAA Tournament. There is plenty of time to improve in a lot of areas, but right now, this team has issues.
Mike Waters: Wrong side of the bubble
I’ve got Syracuse winning 19 regular season games. Even if the Orange wins 20 that might not be enough to earn an NCAA Tournament bid.
The one thing that could change that dynamic is if the rest of the ACC plays better against non-conference competition than it has in recent years. If the rest of the ACC is stronger, it might be possible to get an NCAA bid with a 20-win regular season. For now, I’ve got Syracuse on the wrong side of the bubble.
Final Four
Brent Axe: Duke, Houston, Purdue, Florida
Yeah, it’s a chalky bunch that I’m predicting to make it to Indianapolis, but don’t forget all four No. 1 seeds made it to the Final Four last year.
Chris Carlson: Houston, Purdue, Louisville, Texas Tech
Donna Ditota: BYU, Purdue, UConn, Houston
Mike Waters: Purdue, UConn, Duke, Kentucky
National champion
Brent Axe: Purdue
Purdue has gone to the Sweet 16 three of the last four seasons under Matt Painter, reached the Final Four and played for a national championship.
This team is loaded and ready to claim its title and has a good path to get there.
If Purdue earns a No. 1 seed, it would play first- and second-round games in St. Louis, Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games in Chicago and The Final Four is in Indianapolis, in the shadow of West Lafayette.
Chris Carlson: Purdue
Donna Ditota: UConn
Mike Waters: Duke
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