Syracuse basketball looks to bounce back from two straight losing seasons and make a serious bid to return to the annual NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021, as first-year head coach Gerry McNamara and his program begin their 2026-27 campaign on Monday night against non-conference foe New Haven.
McNamara, who won a national title as a standout guard with the Orange during the 2002-03 season, spent the past two campaigns turning around Siena. He led the Saints to the 2026 NCAA Tournament, and No. 16 seed Siena nearly upset top-seeded Duke in the first round.
This past March, following a 15-17 season for the 'Cuse, SU officials parted ways with third-year head coach Adrian Autry and hired McNamara as his replacement. McNamara brought over three Siena players to SU, along with several Saints' coaches.
The Orange's roster has a lot of depth and positional versatility, but there are question marks about whether the 'Cuse has enough talent and shooting, among other things. McNamara preaches high energy and toughness. Whether that will translate to Syracuse basketball faring well on defense and on the glass remains to be seen.
How to watch Syracuse basketball host New Haven in the 2026-27 season opener.
New Haven and the Orange are scheduled to tip off at 7:00 pm EST on Monday, Nov. 2, at the JMA Wireless Dome. The ACC Network Extra will provide live-streaming coverage. Monday's non-conference duel will be the first-ever meeting between the programs.
Last season, the Chargers were in their first campaign competing at the NCAA's Division I level. A member of the NEC, New Haven went 14-17 overall and 9-9 in conference play during the 2025-26 campaign.
The 'Cuse played three exhibitions, and McNamara wasn't all that pleased with the team's performances. Syracuse basketball fell by 20 points to UConn, beat Siena by five points and defeated another Empire State team, Niagara, by 13 points.
According to reports, the father of Syracuse basketball head coach Gerry McNamara, Gerard McNamara, has passed away at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. This is heartbreaking. Orange Nation sends a lot of love to the McNamara family. 💔 https://t.co/TOWJ9wiPdT
— InsideTheLoudHouse (@LoudHouseFS) November 1, 2026
We'll have to see whether junior guard Aiden Tobiason is available. Based on McNamara's comments about him not too long ago, it wouldn't surprise me if Tobiason doesn't play against New Haven. Other players on the 2026-27 roster have been a bit banged up here and there. It will be vital for SU's roster to get as healthy as possible soon because the Orange has some difficult non-conference games on the horizon.
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