The preseason Associated Press top-25 poll is out, and Syracuse basketball didn't make the cut. That's not a surprise, since the Orange has a new head coach and staff, a lot of new players, and the 'Cuse has endured two straight losing seasons and not been to the annual NCAA Tournament since 2021.
While preseason rankings have to be taken with a grain of salt, the Orange will face a handful of teams both in the non-conference and during Atlantic Coast Conference play that are in the preseason AP top 25 (or receiving votes). Let's have a look.
BREAKING: The preseason AP top 25 in men's basketball is out. No Syracuse. ACC teams: No. 2 Duke, No. 9 Virginia, No. 11 Louisville and No. 14 Miami. Thoughts? 🔽https://t.co/R8Fs1L8AMJ
— InsideTheLoudHouse (@LoudHouseFS) October 19, 2026
Syracuse basketball foes that reside in the preseason Associated Press top-25 poll.
Non-conference
No. 13 St. John's
Sunday, Nov. 15, at 7:00 pm EST at Madison Square Garden in New York City
Indiana (receiving votes)
Monday, Nov. 9, at 6:30 pm EST at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
ACC contests
No. 2 Duke
Tuesday, Jan. 5, at 7:00 pm EST at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.
No. 9 Virginia
Wednesday, Feb. 3, at 9:00 pm EST at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.
No. 11 Louisville
Saturday, Jan. 16, at 2:00 pm EST at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.
No. 14 Miami
Saturday, Jan. 9, at 3:00 pm EST at the Watsco Center in Coral Gables, Fla.
North Carolina (receiving votes)
Saturday, Jan. 23, at noon EST at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, N.Y.
Virginia Tech (receiving votes)
Wednesday, March 3, at 9:00 pm EST at the Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Va.
One other ranking to mention. UConn, which recently defeated Syracuse basketball in an exhibition by 20 points, checks in at No. 4 in the preseason AP top-25 poll.
As we've discussed before, on paper, the Orange has a "favorable" 18-game league calendar. There are four ACC squads in the preseason AP top 25, and the 'Cuse gets three of them in Central New York.
The 'Cuse went 15-17 last season. First-year head coach Gerry McNamara has vowed to return the program to national relevance, although he was less than thrilled with the team's performance over the weekend, when Syracuse basketball squeaked by Siena in an exhibition in Albany, N.Y.
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