Syracuse basketball players are confident that they can return the program to its former glory, and the first step in doing so is getting the Orange back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021.
"We can make history. We can build something great here," senior shooting guard J.J. Starling said at the team's recent media day, when asked about what his pitch was to transfers who were considering a move to the Hill.
The Orange's 2025-26 roster includes two key returnees, a six-member transfer class and a five-member prep class with three four-star prospects. Junior point guard Naithan George, a transfer from Georgia Tech, led the Atlantic Coast Conference in assists per game last season. He and Starling are the team's captains for the 2025-26 campaign, which begins in two weeks.
The roster constructed by head coach Adrian Autry and his staff is athletic and versatile. It remains to be seen how the center spot will fare, but point-guard play will be excellent, and the squad's defense should prove much improved. The Orange will have to cut down on its turnovers and better its collective percentage from long range.
Speaking of that, check out what freshman guard/wing Kiyan Anthony had to say. "Syracuse basketball this year is going to be a lot of highlights. It’s going to be fun. We got a lot of versatility. So you’re going to see a lot of dunks. You’re going to see a lot of 3-pointers and a lot of crowd-energizing moments."
Heck. Yeah.
Syracuse basketball will be an exciting to watch this season.
Sadiq White Jr., a freshman forward who is being praised by his teammates for his defensive prowess and leadership despite never having played a college game yet, says he thinks this roster is made for March.
"We feel like we belong in the tournament and especially with this group of guys," White said. "With an elite point guard like Nait George, who led the ACC in assists, and shooters like (redshirt senior) Nate Kingz and all the other guys like that. Man, I feel like this is the team that can do it."
I agree with Sadiq. On paper, at least, the Syracuse basketball 2025-26 roster has the best shot of any recent Orange team to hear its name called on Selection Sunday.
Given that the 'Cuse struggled a whole lot on defense in 2024-25, the coaching staff is putting a big emphasis on that end of the court. Autry is all about toughness this coming term, according to assistant coach Allen Griffin.
"If you’re not tough, you’re not going to be able to play the defense that we want you to play," he said.