Syracuse, N.Y. — There were two big Syracuse sports stories last week.
The first was the SU basketball team’s big win over Tennessee. The second was the SU football team’s big recruiting haul, including the signing of Calvin Russell, an elite level wide receiver out of Miami.
Not coincidentally, I’m starting off this week’s Mailbox with a question that combines those two big stories.
A reminder: The Mailbox has returned as part of our Inside Syracuse basketball newsletter. As a subscriber to the newsletter, you’ll get the Mailbox days before it appears on Syracuse.com. You’ll also be able to submit questions directly to me at mwaters@syracuse.com.
Q: With Calvin Russell committing to Syracuse football, what does that mean for Syracuse basketball? From what I understand, Russell is a 5-star football recruit, but also holds basketball offers from Michigan, Illinois and other major programs. With him on campus next year, is there any indication that he plays for the basketball team and if so, what type of impact could that have? – David S.
Mike: Coaches, both football and basketball, were precluded from talking about Calvin Russell until he submitted his signed letter of intent. From what I could glean from sources prior to Russell’s signing is that there would be a spot on Syracuse’s basketball roster for him if he should decide to play both sports.
But let’s have a serious, reality-based conversation here: Unless Calvin Russell is the next Charlie Ward, there’s very little chance he plays basketball at the college level and an even slimmer chance that he would have an impact on the basketball court.
There’s just not enough room on the athletics calendar to play both sports at a high level these days.
By the time this year’s Syracuse football team finished its regular season, the basketball team had played eight games. What if the football team makes a bowl game? That’s another 2-3 weeks of football for Russell and another five basketball games he would miss.
How could Russell or any athlete expect to switch from football to basketball on or about Jan. 1, with little to no practice time with the basketball team, and expect to play at the start of the ACC schedule?
And then there’s the potential of an overlap between the end of basketball season and the start of spring football.
Now, if this is something a player like Russell just wants to try to have a little fun outside of his football regimen, I’m all for it. Russell does have legitimate height and athleticism.
I’m sure the SU basketball coaches would welcome him onto the roster just as they did in the past for two-sport athletes like football players Malik Campbell, Mike Williams and Melvin Tuten and former SU lacrosse star Charlie Lockwood.
With Syracuse’s centers in foul trouble, Donovan McNabb came off the bench to help the Orangemen beat Georgetown, 77-74, on Feb. 8, 1997 at the Carrier Dome.
Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.comDennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com
The prime example is Donovan McNabb, who was an exceptional athlete, but minus one memorable game against Georgetown, he was a budding football star dabbling in basketball.
When McNabb’s football career took off, his basketball career at Syracuse ended after two shortened seasons.
I think fans need to temper any expectations they may have that Russell would somehow become a rotational player for the Orange basketball squad.
Q: Was wondering, doesn’t the school get an NCAA fine for storming the court? – Gerry F.
Mike: Syracuse fans, mostly the SU students, stormed the court following the Orange’s exciting win over Tennessee. It was SU’s first regular-season win over a nationally ranked non-conference foe since 2018.
The ACC does have a rule against court-storming, which includes the potential of a $50,000 fine. The idea is to discourage court-stormings or at least encourage schools to have protective plans in place to ensure the safety of players, coaches and officials.
Syracuse students stormed the court after the Orange defeated 13th-ranked Tennessee at the JMA Wireless Dome on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025.
Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com
Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com
I talked with ACC media relations representative Andrew Fledderjohan on Monday. He said the conference is still reviewing the situation following the SU-Tennessee game.
The ACC/SEC Challenge followed by the conference’s football championship game on Saturday delayed things a bit.
Of note, a mitigating factor is whether SU had a plan in place and put it into action.
Syracuse officials clearly had a plan in place. There was a heavy presence of dome security and Syracuse police between the student section and the court near the end of the game.
Also: The folks that form the human rope-line hustled onto the court to form a barrier between the on-rushing crowd and the players/coaches in the handshake line.
Q: Has SU ever shot as poorly from the free throw line as they did against Houston (41%) when attempting at least 20 free throws? – Paul L.
Mike: Syracuse made just 12 out of 29 free throws in its 78-74 overtime loss to Houston in Las Vegas. That’s a .414 percentage.
I reached out to SU’s director of athletic communications Pete Moore for help on this one.
He did not have the exact answer in terms of 20 or more free throw attempts, but he found two games where Syracuse took at least 10 free throws and shot a lower percentage than it did versus Houston.
Here they are:
.286 (4-14) at St. John’s; Jan. 21, 2007.286 (4-14) at Boston College; Feb. 20, 1993