Senior shooting guard J.J. Starling, who has only played three minutes to date in the 2025-26 season due to a lower-body injury, is available to play on Tuesday night when Syracuse basketball will host non-conference foe Monmouth, I'm told.
Sophomore forward Tyler Betsey, on the other hand, won't be in uniform on Tuesday evening due to an injury that he suffered in the Orange's 30-point win last Saturday against Drexel in Philadelphia, accoreding to a 'Cuse spokesperson.
Betsey appeared to roll his ankle roughly midway through the first half against Drexel. He had scored five quick points off the bench but didn't play any more after suffering that injury. Wishing him a speedy recovery.
After the Orange (3-0) plays Monmouth (1-2) at the JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse basketball will head to Las Vegas for the NIL-driven Players Era Festival. The 'Cuse will battle No. 2 Houston, No. 24 Tennessee and a third opponent that isn't yet known.
Syracuse basketball is a sizable betting favorite at home against Monmouth.
After the Orange beat Drexel, head coach Adrian Autry said he didn't think that Betsey's injury "was that serious." Betsey, a former Syracuse basketball prep recruit who transferred to the program from Cincinnati this past offseason, is a key reserve for the 'Cuse, averaging 12.7 minutes, 7.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
Hopefully, Betsey will be back to full strength for the Players Era Festival. Besides the three games there, the Orange will also host No. 20 Tennessee in early December as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.
But first, the 'Cuse needs to focus on Coastal Athletic Association ("CAA") school Monmouth from West Long Branch, N.J. On Tuesday morning, per FanDuel, Syracuse basketball was a large 21.5-point betting favorite against the Hawks, with the over/under set at 146.5 points.
It's encouraging that Starling is available to play versus Monmouth. I'll be curious to see how much court time he gets. In his absence, freshman shooting guard Kiyan Anthony has started in the backcourt and played quite well.