Gerry McNamara wants to be among nation's elite head coaches and says bring on UConn

In Syracuse basketball's inaugural season under former legendary guard Gerry McNamara, the Orange is reportedly going to face several former Big East Conference foes, and the fan base (at least most of it) is loving it.

Might UConn, which, along with St. John's, is dominating SU's former conference these days, join the party and battle nemesis Syracuse in the coming seasons? Darn straight.

At least that's according to McNamara's conversation this week with another SU alum, Adam Schein, on Mad Dog Sports Radio (Adam is great by the way - give him a listen). McNamara says that he spoke with UConn head coach Dan Hurley this offseason, and Gerry acknowledges that both fan bases would love to see an Orange-Huskies non-conference bout sooner rather than later.

"I despised UConn" during his playing days, McNamara said, adding that the Huskies program feels the same way about the 'Cuse. Much like SU's long-time rivalry with Georgetown, though, McNamara stresses that with that hatred, for lack of a better word, comes an appreciation for the success that both the Huskies and the Hoyas have accumulated over the years.

Syracuse basketball is set to play several Big East squads in the upcoming 2026-27 season.

The 'Cuse bolted the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 2013-14 stanza. That decision, understandably, was driven in large part by football and television revenue generated by that sport.

Since then, Syracuse basketball has slogged through a lot of so-so regular seasons, while making a few nice NCAA Tournament runs. Admittedly, Georgetown hasn't been good in recent terms, too, although Hurley guided UConn to the national championship in 2023 and 2024, and the Huskies reached the title game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

McNamara said that his Orange team wants to be on that stage, playing against the best teams, while Syracuse's first-year head coach goes toe-to-toe with the sport's top head coaches. He then cited Hurley and former SU assistant Rick Pitino, who currently leads St. John's, a group that is expected to square off against Syracuse basketball this coming campaign at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Those are elite head coaches, McNamara says, and he wants to be among the nation's elite coaches, while bringing the Orange back to national relevancy. He adds that continuing to challenge his program and being on that stage against stellar competition will give the 'Cuse an opportunity to return to its former glory days when Big Dance bids were the norm.

From my perspective, McNamara is doing some totally exciting, fun and smart things with the team's schedule for this season and beyond.

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