Syracuse basketball put up one heck of a fight on Monday night at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, and now the Orange will look to get back into the win column on Tuesday afternoon against another Big 12 Conference powerhouse.
The 'Cuse, which will be without its leading scorer, sophomore power forward Donnie Freeman, for the entire Players Era Festival, hung with No. 3/2 Houston on Monday evening. Houston went up by 11 points with around three minutes left, but Syracuse basketball stormed back.
About 90 minutes from the tip-off as Syracuse basketball will play No. 2/3 Houston at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. An SU spokesperson tells our @DAMNTWIN that Donnie Freeman won’t play, while Tyler Betsey is available. Score predictions? Let’s go!
— InsideTheLoudHouse (@LoudHouseFS) November 24, 2025
The game went into overtime, and the Cougars (6-0), the national runner-up a season ago, prevailed over the Orange (4-1) by a final score of 78-74. The 'Cuse was doomed by poor shooting from the free-throw line and 3-point range.
So. Syracuse was without Donnie Freeman. Syracuse was woeful from the charity stripe. Syracuse got out-rebounded by No. 2/3 Houston. Yet Syracuse took the national runner-up to OT, losing by 4. Frustrated, but super proud. 🧡
— InsideTheLoudHouse (@LoudHouseFS) November 25, 2025
Still, Syracuse basketball showed it can hang with the big boys. Another one awaits on Tuesday. The Orange will battle Kansas (4-2), which on Monday in the Sin City defeated fellow Atlantic Coast Conference team Notre Dame, 71-61.
How to watch Syracuse basketball against Kansas.
Back in action‼️🍊🙌
— Syracuse Men’s Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) November 25, 2025
🕞 3:30 PM ET
📺 TNT / HBO Max
📻 TK99/105 & 'Cuse App pic.twitter.com/jIi7fFWfjl
The Orange and the Jayhawks are scheduled to tip off at 3:30 pm EST on Tuesday, Nov. 25, with television coverage on TNT. This tantalizing non-conference affair will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
When I wrote this column on Tuesday morning, FanDuel had Kansas as a small 3.5-point betting favorite over Syracuse basketball, with the over/under set at 148.5 points.
While the 'Cuse is without Freeman, the Jayhawks will be without their star guard, freshman Darryn Peterson, due to a hamstring strain. Peterson, who held a 'Cuse scholarship offer as a prep recruit, is a potential No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, experts say.
The Jayhawks are still extremely talented and well-coached; however, if the Orange can nearly knock off Houston, Syracuse basketball has a prime opportunity to pick off Kansas and grab a win in the NIL-driven Players Era Festival.
In their all-time series together, per SU Athletics, the 'Cuse is 3-3 against the Jayhawks, with the Orange besting Kansas in the national championship game of the 2003 NCAA Tournament.
After the 'Cuse plays the Jayhawks, Syracuse basketball will have one more game in Las Vegas, on either Wednesday or Thursday.