Syracuse recently squeaked out an exhibition win against Buffalo last Saturday; while star freshman Sadiq White was held out of the contest with a day-to-day injury, many of the Orange’s “Anticipated” starting five played most of the game. While SU gained a victory, many of its star players did not have their most efficient nights on the hardwood. The ‘Cuse have five games before Las Vegas’ Players Era Tournament, in which it faces both Kansas and Houston: two of the premier programs in college basketball. Here’s what the Orange need to accomplish before then as they open with an extremely winnable slate:
Figure out the big man situation
Last season, Eddie Lampkin was Syracuse’s only true big-man presence. The Orange brought in William Kyle from UCLA to solve this issue, but he is more known on the offensive end of the court. SU faces some of the best bigs/forwards in the country this season, particularly in the Thanksgiving swing that goes from Players Era right into an ACC/SEC challenge against Tennessee. Head Coach Adrian Autry talked about being a stronger and more physical team over the offseason, now it is time for the non-traditional center players on the team to fill the role with their length.
Come to Vegas shooting the 3 ball at a high level
Similar to the last item on the to-do list, Syracuse must fix its greatest woes from the 2024/25 season. The Orange tried to rectify the problem in the transfer portal with Naithan George (Georgia Tech) and Nate Kingz (Oregon State), but the on-paper names can only do so much compared to the team’s scheme and overall shooting flow. SU was 9-22 (Starting five was 3-13) from behind the arc against Buffalo, but some of that can be attributed to rust. Fans will want to see the shooting numbers strengthen as ‘Cuse plays through their early slate.
Find out the rotation
Last season, Syracuse’s rotation was a revolving door with injuries and hot-and-cold players. The 2025/26 team has the strength of depth, but that can quickly turn into a weakness; nobody wants a “What if” situation when it comes to player’s minutes, similar to the Kyle Cuffe situation from last year. Autry needs to figure out how the group of freshmen fit in with the transfers and returners, and what the guard dynamic looks like. The Orange are equipped with more talent, but they must learn how to use it in order to win big games such as the Players Era.
Syracuse faces Pace on Wednesday Night (October 29th) in the Dome for an exhibition.
