Ahead of the upcoming 2026-27 campaign, data analytics guru KenPom isn't high on Syracuse basketball, and that's understandable.
KenPom disclosed its preseason ratings on Monday. The Orange resides at No. 80 overall, which is seven spots higher than where the 'Cuse finished last season. In 2025-26, Syracuse basketball went 15-17 overall, the program's second straight losing season.
After last season ended, SU officials parted ways with third-year head coach Adrian Autry, and they hired another former Syracuse basketball standout guard, Gerry McNamara, to lead the program. McNamara is tasked with turning around a 'Cuse squad that hasn't been to the annual NCAA Tournament since 2021. He vows to return the Orange to "national relevance."
Since the Orange moved from the Big East Conference to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013-14, Syracuse basketball hasn't been a major factor in the ACC standings, save for that initial campaign. In KenPom's preseason ratings, the 'Cuse sits at No. 14 in the 18-member league.
Here are KenPom's preseason rankings for Syracuse basketball and the rest of the ACC.
KenPom's 2026-27 preseason ratings for Syracuse basketball
Overall, No. 80
Adjusted offensive efficiency, No. 103
Adjusted defensive efficiency, No. 59
Adjusted tempo, No. 276
Strength of schedule rating, NA
Non-conference strength of schedule rating, NA
KenPom's 2025-26 final ratings for Syracuse basketball
Overall, No. 87
Adjusted offensive efficiency, No. 87
Adjusted defensive efficiency, No. 95
Adjusted tempo, No. 180
Strength of schedule rating, No. 70
Non-conference strength of schedule rating, No. 242
KenPom's preseason ACC rankings
No. 1 Duke
No. 15 Virginia
No. 17 Louisville
No. 22 Miami
No. 37 North Carolina
No. 50 Clemson
No. 52 Virginia Tech
No. 60 SMU
No. 65 N.C. State
No. 66 Pittsburgh
No. 67 Stanford
No. 73 Florida State
No. 76 Wake Forest
No. 80 Syracuse
No. 83 Notre Dame
No. 95 California
No. 101 Georgia Tech
No. 114 Boston College
KenPom's preseason ratings for SU's non-conference foes in power conferences
No. 23 St. John's
No. 29 Oklahoma
No. 39 Providence
No. 47 Indiana
No. 82 Rutgers
Take these and other preseason projections with the proverbial grain of salt. But one thing that stood out is KenPom placing the Orange at No. 59 in adjusted defensive efficiency, after Syracuse basketball was No. 95 in that category last season.
McNamara has made it clear that the 'Cuse 2026-27 roster is going to get after it defensively, and the team is loaded with depth, length and positional versatility in the regard.
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