Three problematic areas for Syracuse basketball, last season, were its play at point guard, the team's woeful defense and the Orange's lack of athletic centers to protect the rim.
As the program's 2025-26 season inches closer, Syracuse basketball coaches believe they have fixed those issues. That, of course, remains to be seen, but there is a renewed sense of optimism surrounding the 'Cuse after Syracuse basketball went just 14-19 in 2024-25.
For one, at point guard, the Orange has a strong floor-general in junior Naithan George, who transferred in from fellow Atlantic Coast Conference school Georgia Tech and led the league in assists per game as a sophomore. George was a four-star portal prospect, and some experts view him as one of the top transfers in the ACC during the upcoming campaign.
Stabilizing the point guard position is critical. One key reason why is that it will enable senior J.J. Starling, a preseason All-ACC second-team selection, to focus on playing at the No. 2 spot, his more natural position. With George the primary facilitator, Starling can do what he does best, drive to the basket and score in the mid-range.
Syracuse basketball has a promising 2025-26 roster.
Not only will George be instrumental in working in tandem with Starling, but the Orange's presumed starting point guard will also look for openings to shooters and bigs such as redshirt senior wing Nate Kingz, freshman guard Kiyan Anthony, sophomore power forward Donnie Freeman, senior center William Kyle lll and sophomore forward Tyler Betsey, among others.
Speaking of bigs, the 'Cuse center spot struggled last season when it came to blocking shots, protecting the rim, and defending out of the pick and roll, among other things. What head coach Adrian Autry and his staff did with their transfer portal and prep recruiting efforts was land power forward and centers who may not be as tall as traditional bigs, but they are more agile and mobile.
The Orange wants to play up-tempo. Quick, but not out of control. The team's current crop of big men should be adept at crashing the boards on both ends of the court, and George will have many opportunities to throw lobs for these power forwards and centers to get above the rim and dunk with authority.
Arguably the biggest issue for Syracuse basketball in 2024-25, other than it committing far too many turnovers, was the team's sub-par defense that allowed nearly 78 points per game. Since only Starling and Freeman returned from last year's squad, it's hard to gauge how the Orange's 2025-26 roster will fare in the defensive department.
However, one thing to note is that the roster, as a whole, has a lot of athleticism and a ton of length, from the guards and wings to the forwards and centers. Regarding defense, one guy to keep an eye on is freshman Sadiq White Jr., a top-30 national prospect who was regarded by analysts and scouts as one of the best defenders across the country in the 2025 class.
According to a Syracuse.com article, during the Orange's offseason workouts, the team went a full six weeks in which it worked strictly on defense. That's encouraging to hear. White could very well be the top 'Cuse defender in 2025-26, even as a freshman.
Even though he's yet to play an official college game, Autry says that White is demonstrating leadership qualities, and it starts on the defensive end for the talented prospect from Charlotte, N.C. The Syracuse basketball head coach notes that White is athletic and long, but he's also got a toughness about him.
Hopefully, that's one sign that the team's defense will be vastly improved in the upcoming term. If it is, the 'Cuse should be a significant contender to finish in the top half of the ACC and hear its name called on Selection Sunday for the first time since 2021.