Earlier this week, the Atlantic Coast Conference's preseason media poll projected Syracuse basketball to finish at No. 11 in the league standings during the upcoming 2026-27 campaign. Personally, I thought the Orange, under first-year head coach Gerry McNamara, would be in the No. 7 to No. 9 range.
National writer Cameron Salerno of CBS Sports, to that end, recently wrote that he had the 'Cuse finishing seventh in the ACC. He acknowledged that "might be rich, but I believe in what McNamara is building."
Me too, Cameron. Me too.
Salerno added, "Syracuse is going to be the surprise team in the ACC during the 2026-27 season. After missing the NCAA Tournament for five consecutive years, the 2026-27 season is when Syracuse takes a step back in the right direction with new coach Gerry McNamara at the helm of his alma mater."
It remains to be seen whether the Orange will hear its name called on Selection Sunday in March 2027, for the first time since 2021, but I do agree with the CBS Sports expert that the 'Cuse will be much improved from a campaign ago, when the 'Cuse was 15-17 overall.
Syracuse basketball has a second exhibition on Sunday afternoon.
This past Tuesday night, UConn handled the Orange by 20 points in SU's first exhibition. The 'Cuse has two more exhibition matchups, including one against McNamara's former team, Siena, on Sunday afternoon.
Syracuse basketball put forth two straight losing seasons under then-head coach Adrian Autry, who was fired last March. McNamara was brought in to revive the storied Orange program, and he's vowed to return Syracuse basketball to national relevance.
It won't be easy, but if anyone can do it, I believe it's McNamara. His 2026-27 roster boasts a lot of positional versatility and depth. As is often the case with 'Cuse teams in recent seasons, we'll have to see how Syracuse basketball fares on defense, with its 3-point shooting, on the boards and in the turnover department.
I'm stating the obvious, but the Orange's 2026-27 lineup also has to remain healthy. We've already seen the injury bug hit a few 'Cuse players, including junior guard Aiden Tobiason, a four-star transfer from Temple who is expected to be in McNamara's starting rotation in the upcoming campaign.
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