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Syracuse men’s basketball is entering a pivotal third season under head coach Adrian Autry. Following four consecutive years without a March Madness appearance, the Orange are amid their longest drought since missing six straight from 1967-72.

With a revamped roster and increased expectations, here are five hot takes for SU’s season:

Naithan George repeats as the ACC assists leader

Hot Take Meter: 1/5

As a sophomore at Georgia Tech last year, Naithan George emerged as one of the best point guards in the Atlantic Coast Conference, leading the ACC with 6.5 assists per game. After becoming the crown jewel of the Orange’s transfer portal acquisitions, I think he’ll again top the conference in assists.

With Autry wanting his team to play fast, George should frequently push the pace with the ball in his hands, looking to facilitate a score. Alongside J.J. Starling and Donnie Freeman, George gives SU three offensive alphas. Beyond the trio, Syracuse has a plethora of players capable of scoring double figures any given night in Nate Kingz, Tyler Betsey, Sadiq White Jr. and Kiyan Anthony.

Meanwhile, George should have a lot of fun in the lob game with White and big men William Kyle III and Akir Souare. The Orange certainly have the pieces for George to repeat as the ACC’s assists leader. Now, it’ll come down to production and health.

Sadiq White Jr. doesn’t start a game all year, still gets selected in 2026 NBA Draft

Hot Take Meter: 2/5

Ranked as 247Sports’ No. 26 prospect, White is among the most exciting freshmen in the country this year and is the kind of recruit Autry dreams of. Listed at 6-foot-9 and 195 pounds, White’s frame and athleticism give him the perfect blend of guarding 1-through-5 and being a defensive force.

Meanwhile, as mentioned above, he should be lethal for the Orange as a lob threat and when pushing the pace in transition. He’s still developing offensive game, specifically his outside shot, but Autry said White is “a very good offensive player” during Media Day.

That being said, there’s a realistic chance White doesn’t start a game for the Orange this year. If he’s on the court alongside Freeman and Kyle, Syracuse’s spacing could be suspicious. Still, he will likely play an influential role for the Orange, and with his untapped potential, NBA teams should keep a close eye on White throughout the year.

Nate Kingz sets new single-season 3-point record

Hot Take Meter: 3/5

In his first year at the Division I level last year with Oregon State, Kingz was one of the most efficient scorers in the country. His 131.1 offensive rating and 65.3% true shooting percentage placed 25th and 26th in the nation, respectively, per KenPom. A massive part of his success was his prowess from beyond the arc, as he drained 44.6% of his 3s while shooting 4.2 per game.

Syracuse’s current single-season 3-point record holder is Andrew White III, who drained 112 while shooting 40.3% in the 2016-17 campaign. For Kingz to reach White’s record, he’ll likely need to shoot closer to seven 3-pointers per game. Considering Eugene Tulyagijja told The Daily Orange he encouraged Autry to have SU attempt at least 30 3-pointers each game before leaving Syracuse for the Knicks, it’s not a totally far-fetched idea.

If he does get the attempts, it’ll come down to Kingz’s efficiency, which he’s already proven himself as elite in. For a team coming off one of the worst 3-point shooting years in the country, it would be a revelation for the Orange if Kingz brings a 3-point barrage to central New York.

Syracuse makes March Madness

Hot Take Meter: 4/5

Autry wants Syracuse to “consistently” compete for championships. Across his first two years at the helm, it instead fought — and failed — to break into a bubble team. By all pre-season indications, the Orange are again going to fight to be a bubble team.

They were picked to finish ninth in the ACC Preseason Poll. ESPN had SU ranked in Tier 8 of its top 80 teams by March Madness potential. KenPom has Syracuse ranked No. 68 preseason. The lists go on, and nobody nationally is projecting the Orange as an NCAA Tournament team.

As seen from The D.O. beat writers’ preseason predictions, we’re more bullish on Syracuse — with two picks for it to make March Madness and one for it to be slightly on the outside looking in. SU is coming off a dream offseason, retaining its two best players, splurging in the transfer portal while bringing in a talented freshman class.

This is the team Autry and Alex Kline needed to build over the offseason. And now that it’s intact, March should be its long-awaited destination.

Donnie Freeman becomes an All-American

Hot Take Meter: 5/5

If Syracuse is going to return to the NCAA Tournament, Freeman should be an integral reason why. As one of the best recruits in program history, the 6-foot-9 forward looked to be coming into his own as a freshman before a right toe injury derailed his season after 14 games.

In his brief sample size, Freeman showcased he was on double-double watch every game and could score from all three levels. When factoring in his blend of size, perimeter skills and defensive versatility, Freeman has all the intangibles to be among the best players in college basketball.

He ended the season averaging 13.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists while shooting 50.4% from the floor and 33.3% from beyond the arc — which seemed to just be scratching the surface of his potential. The closer he plays to his 100th percentile outcome, the farther Syracuse’s season will advance.

And if Freeman averages, say, around 18 points while slightly improving his efficiency, he will be one of the best players in the country. If Freeman does register All-American honors, he’d be SU’s first All-American since Rakeem Christmas in 2015.

Freeman wasn’t listed on either of the Preseason All-ACC Teams.

Published on October 29, 2025 at 9:09 pm
Contact Justin: justingirshon@gmail.com | @JustinGirshon