Syracuse basketball sophomore power forward Donnie Freeman, who has only played in four games during the 2025-26 season due to a lower-body injury, is expected to return to the line-up when the Orange opens Atlantic Coast Conference competition on New Year's Eve at home against Clemson.
So what should we expect upon the return of the 6-foot-9, 205-pound Freeman, who hails from Washington, D.C., and was a consensus five-star high school prospect in the 2024 class?
First and foremost, Freeman might need some time to swing back into things, from a conditioning standpoint and also just getting into a rhythm with the rest of the team. Lately, whether it's on social media, in chat rooms or even on the podcast I host (please subscribe!), I have seen some Orange fans state that they aren't expecting much from Freeman, or that they think the program is better off with him not playing.
I couldn't disagree more. Yes, Freeman is a bit injury-prone. He has only played in four games this season and, due to a different injury in 2024-25, appeared in just 14 games. However, Freeman was leading Syracuse basketball in scoring in 2025-26, at 17.8 points per contest, when he got injured.
Freeman brings a lot to the table. The Orange has a better chance of making the 2026 NCAA Tournament with him in the line-up than with him on the sidelines. Anyone who thinks otherwise, well, I respectfully don't see the logic there.
Sizing up Syracuse basketball with Donnie Freeman back in the mix.
Scoring
As I mentioned, he was leading the 'Cuse in scoring at nearly 18 points per encounter when he got injured. Freeman's scoring production likely won't stay at that amount, but the Orange's offense should get a boost from his return. Plus, other forwards, such as sophomore Tyler Betsey and freshman Sadiq White Jr., may not feel as much pressure to score, and perhaps they can become more efficient with their offensive production. Betsey, for one, only makes 36.8 percent from the field.
The free-throw line
As a freshman, Freeman connected on 79.6 percent from the charity stripe. This season, he had been hitting on 77.8 percent. As a collective unit, the 'Cuse only makes 59.0 percent from the free-throw line, which is awful. Of the Orange's eight main rotational players, only Freeman and junior point guard Naithan George (81.0 percent) connect on better than 60 percent from the free-throw line.
Depth and positional versatility
With Freeman back in the fold, the Orange has more depth in the front-court, which is important if guys get into foul trouble or are fatigued, or other players suffer injuries. What's more, Freeman can play both power forward and center, which gives head coach Adrian Autry and his staff more line-up combinations among the team's small forwards, power forwards and centers.
3-point shooting
Freeman was only making 27.3 percent from deep so far this season, but he did hit on 33.3 percent from long range as a freshman. Syracuse basketball is connecting on just 30.8 percent as a team in 2025-26. Opposing defenders will have to respect that Freeman can make outside shots, and if they play further up on him, that could open up driving lanes for Freeman or interior space for other Orange players.
Rebounding and blocked shots
By and large, the 'Cuse has performed fairly well on the defensive end so far this term. I don't think that Freeman is a great defender, at least not yet, but he was averaging 5.3 rebounds (second on the team) and 1.3 blocks per affair. Syracuse basketball is not a good rebounding team. Hopefully, having Freeman back will help in that department.
More flow in half-court offense
One chief complaint among Orange fans, myself included, is that the 'Cuse half-court offense sometimes will lack ball movement, player movement and an overall rhythm. Often, guys who don't have the ball in their hands will be standing around, and there's also a lot of iso-ball sets, which I find annoying. Freeman is a relatively good ball-handler, so Syracuse basketball can use him on high pick-and-rolls around the free-throw line. When he gets the ball there, Freeman can use his athleticism to get to the rim, or dish out to shooters on the wings. Additionally, if Freeman gets double-teamed, that will leave other guys open, and he's a more than capable passer.