4 key statistics behind Syracuse men’s basketball’s stellar defensive start
Syracuse men’s basketball’s stellar defense has fueled two blowout victories. Our beat writer breaks down four key statistics that define Syracuse men's basketball's defensive success in its first two games. Aaron Hammer | Staff Photographer
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Adrian Autry knew what the issue was last year. The Orange could score with most of the Atlantic Coast Conference, dropping the eighth-most points per game (74.7). But they couldn’t make a stop to save their lives.
Syracuse’s defense allowed 77.8 points per game, ranking 314th of 364 Division I teams. Even with drastic offseason changes, SU was “punked” by Pace — a Division II squad — in its second exhibition before the 2025-26 season. Autry’s job might be on the line this year. He can’t go down this rabbit hole again.
“We can’t get energy from our offense. That doesn’t work,” Autry said after the win over Pace. “We talked about that, being able to, no matter what, play defense. We can’t let our offense dictate our defense and our defensive energy.”
Following the preseason mishap, Syracuse’s defense transformed into a force. The Orange limited Binghamton to 47 points before allowing their fewest points since 2020 against Delaware State.
Here are four key statistics that define Syracuse’s stellar defensive start:
KenPom Effective FG%: 27.3
Anytime Syracuse ranks first in the country, it’s a good sign. Per KenPom, the Orange held their first two opponents to a combined 27.3% effective field goal percentage, the top mark in the nation. SU allowed a 52.9% mark last season. Only Cal and Miami ranked lower in the ACC.
Effective field goal percentage differs from traditional field goal percentage. It gives extra value to a 3-point shot and is measured by the following equation: (FGM + 0.5*3PM) / FGA.
The Orange have held opponents to a 2-for-27 mark (7.4%) from beyond the arc thus far. Binghamton and Delaware State combined for just 29 scores on 110 overall attempts, or 26.4%. Cincinnati transfer Tyler Betsey said Syracuse plays with a sense of urgency on defense to throw off scorers. The statistics match exactly what Autry described following SU’s win over the Hornets.
“Mentality. Disruptive … hunting. Those are the words that we described, that’s how we play,” Autry said Saturday. “We don’t want anyone to be comfortable. We want to get after people. And then we’re gonna give up some stuff. That’s fine, but everything is contested, whether it’s a jump shot, at the rim, anything. That’s what we worked on this summer.”
EvanMiya Defensive BPR: Donnie Freeman: 2.69
Sophomore Donnie Freeman doesn’t do anything too out of the ordinary to prepare for games. He arrives for games two-and-a-half hours before tip-off, earlier than most other Syracuse players, as the vans from the Carmelo K. Anthony Center don’t depart until 15 minutes after that.
It’s one part of the routine that’s fueled Freeman’s sophomore leap, which has been evident defensively. He’s posting a team-high 2.67 Defensive BPR (Bayesian Performance Rating), per EvanMiya CBB Analytics. The mark is in the 98th percentile nationally and represents a player’s defensive per-possession value. For defense, it’s interpreted as the number of defensive points per 100 possessions the player produces if they were on the court with nine average D-I players.
Freeman has three blocks and two steals this season, nearly matching his five and five from a year ago. His freshman year was cut short due to a foot injury, and he held just a 0.64 DBPR. In Freeman’s return this season, Autry added an incentive for defensive stops with three in a row equaling a “kill.”
The Orange display their stop count on the Jumbotron at the JMA Wireless Dome. Playing in front of a crowd is exactly what Freeman missed when he was sidelined. He said being back on the court helps him mentally, and playing at Syracuse ups the intensity. So far, the numbers back his growth.
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KenPom Block%: 20.5
The national average through games played on Nov. 11 for block percentage is 9.8. Through its first two contests, Syracuse has more than doubled that mark with 20.5%. The number ranks 15th in the country and represents the number of opponents’ 2-point attempts the Orange block with a simple equation: (blocked shots) / (opponents’ 2-point attempts).
So far, SU has blocked 17 of its opponents’ 83 2-point attempts. Of Syracuse’s seven players with at least one block, only one has four or more. That’s UCLA transfer William Kyle III, who’s totaled seven following a stellar six-block outing against Delaware State.
After the win over the Hornets, Kyle said he feels his blocking ability comes from his instincts. He has a niche for it, he added. Mixed with a freak 7-foot-3 wingspan and 44-inch vertical, he anticipates hedges to recover on time and deter opponents.
With Freeman sidelined, Eddie Lampkin Jr. and Jyare Davis became SU’s top inside defenders a year ago. Yet Lampkin Jr. only recorded 16 blocks all season, while Davis tied with 6-foot-7 forward Chris Bell at 13. Kyle is listed at just 6-foot-9. But he’s playing far bigger thus far.
Naithan George’s 3.5 steals per game
When Syracuse picked up Naithan George in the transfer portal, Freeman expected a stat line involving eight assists in a game. But he didn’t expect George to tally five steals, too. Both happened in SU’s season-opener as George led the Orange to 11 total steals. He added two against Delaware State, bringing his season average to 3.5 per game.
Five steals are eye-popping for many reasons. However, it’s even more impressive due to Syracuse’s abysmal numbers last season. The Orange averaged only 4.9 steals per game last year, with Jaquan Carlos as the only player averaging over one steal per game. It was 1.1, to be exact.
Per EvanMiya CBB Analytics, George’s Defensive BPR is 2.02, in the 97th percentile. His projection for defensive impact is +0.21, which ranks in the 69th percentile and measures the difference between his previous statistics and actual DBRP.
Freeman said Syracuse’s defensive physicality and energy begin with George, as he guards the ball handler and picks up instantly on most defensive possessions. When George is guarding like he did against the Bearcats, Betsey thinks he might just be the best point guard in the country.
