We have a more specific timetable of when Syracuse basketball sophomore power forward Donnie Freeman is expected to return to the court for the Orange.
On Saturday afternoon, a team spokesperson told me that the 6-foot-9, 205-pound Freeman is expected to come back for the 'Cuse after the program's holiday break. The spokesperson says that as long as Freeman "continues to improve at the current rate," he should be available when Syracuse basketball commences Atlantic Coast Conference competition on New Year's Eve.
On Wednesday, Dec. 31, beginning at 2:00 pm EST, the Orange will host Clemson at the JMA Wireless Dome to mark the start of league action. This is highly encouraging news.
Freeman, a native of Washington, D.C., was a consensus five-star prospect in the 2024 class, and he was ranked as high as No. 6 nationally in this cycle. He got off to a good beginning to his freshman season but would only appear in 14 games due to an injury.
Syracuse basketball expects Donnie Freeman to return in 11 days.
As the 'Cuse jumped out to a 4-0 record in the current campaign, Freeman was leading the team in scoring at 17.8 points per game. However, he's missed the past seven contests due to a lower-body injury.
Earlier this week, as the Orange beat Mercyhurst at the Dome by 14 points, Freeman dressed and went through pregame warmups, but he wasn't likely to play, the team spokesperson told me. In the coming minutes, Syracuse basketball will host Northeastern on the Hill, and the 'Cuse spokesperson had told me that the same thing would occur for Freeman - dressing and going through pregame warmups, but unlikely to play.
Syracuse basketball sophomore big man Donnie Freeman will dress and go through pregame warmups, but he isn't likely to play this afternoon against Northeastern at the Dome, a team spokesperson tells our @DAMNTWIN. Freeman has missed the past 7 games due to a lower-body injury.
— InsideTheLoudHouse (@LoudHouseFS) December 20, 2025
The Orange (7-4 overall) has one more non-conference encounter after today. The 'Cuse will host Stonehill on Monday, Dec. 22, before the program's holiday break.
In Freeman's absence, freshman forward Sadiq White Jr. has been inserted into the starting line-up. White, a top-30 national prospect in the 2025 class from Charlotte, N.C., has played pretty well. For the entire 2025-26 stanza, White is averaging 8.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while making 52.8 percent from the field.
It will be great to see how good this Syracuse basketball squad can be with Freeman back in the line-up.