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Syracuse’s 2024-25 season took the program to a new low. The Orange produced a 14-19 record, their worst winning percentage since the 1968-69 season, and bowed out of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament in the second round.

Adrian Autry’s job status will be in question in his third season at the helm as many debate over the standard he must bring back to Syracuse. In the offseason, Autry retained SU’s top two scorers in J.J. Starling and Donnie Freeman while bringing in a cast of characters from the transfer portal and recruiting trail. Following two exhibition victories, it’s time to see what the Orange have in store.

SU’s first test comes against Binghamton. The Bearcats and the Orange last faced off in the 2013-14 season, where then-No. 4 Syracuse dismantled Binghamton 93-65.

Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse (0-0, ACC) will fare against Binghamton (0-0, America East) in its 2025-26 season opener:

Aiden Stepansky (0-0)
All about them
Syracuse 78, Binghamton 64

If we learned anything from Syracuse’s abysmal second year under Autry, it’s that the early slate of nonconference games foreshadowed what was to come. SU began 3-0 with an average win margin of just five points against Le Moyne, Colgate and Youngstown State. With plenty more nonconference lowlights on the schedule this year, we’ll quickly find out what this team is made of.

The Orange will take care of business against Binghamton on Monday. But how will it look? This might not be the same last-second victory as the beginning of last year, but I do see Syracuse starting a bit slow. Again, SU has just two rotational returners from last year. While the two exhibitions gave room for growth, gelling takes time with that much turnover. However, the Bearcats don’t have anyone close to Freeman’s talents.

He looked to be breaking out before a season-ending injury last year, dominating in Syracuse’s exhibitions. I see Freeman putting up an easy 20 points and 10 rebounds to kickstart his sophomore campaign. Keep an eye on Syracuse’s defense. If we see vast improvement from the Pace exhibition, that already shows Autry isn’t playing around. If issues remain, central New York could be in for another long season.

The early stretch is set up to be all about the Orange, allowing for growth while still collecting wins. It might not be as pretty as some hope, but 1-0 is 1-0.

Cooper Andrews (0-0)
Easy pickings
Syracuse 84, Binghamton 61

Of us three scribes, I’m the only one who didn’t cover this beat last season. But believe me, I’ve heard all the horror stories of how unexpectedly incompetent the Orange played against cupcakes to open their nonconference slate last year. Anyone with a brain knew SU was in for a hideous campaign after watching those first three dreaded efforts.

This year, however, is different. Syracuse had the perfect offseason. It got a reality check after playing relatively sluggish during exhibition play. Now, looking to respond to an angry Autry after SU’s mostly-terrible showing versus Pace last week, the Orange are ready to perform how their coaches say they’re practicing — with speed, tenacity and brutality.

I have Syracuse delivering a lopsided victory over Binghamton to open its consequential 2025-26 season. The one-two punch of Starling’s crafty scoring ability and Freeman’s physicality in the post will be too much for the Bearcats to overcome. I also see SU’s freshmen getting tons of playing time in this one; expect Kiyan Anthony to connect with Sadiq White for a few emphatic alley-oops. And William Kyle III will help lead SU to a big day on the glass (aka, the Orange won’t be outrebounded like they were against Pace).

The Dome crowd will go home happy Monday evening, and amid SU football’s bad season, all will be right in CNY again.

Justin Girshon (0-0)
Getting the ball rolling
Syracuse 85, Binghamton 67

Much like Syracuse’s beginning to last year, they open with what should be a smooth opening-night win in the JMA Wireless Dome. As my fellow scribes have noted above, it simply wasn’t that simple when the Orange barely squeaked by Le Moyne to open the 2024-25 campaign.

But this year’s Orange squad is much different than the team that took the floor last year — and different in a good way, not the bad kind. They’ll show why against the Bearcats, cruising to a double-digit win. Binghamton opens the year ranked No. 323 by KenPom and No. 328 by EvanMiya.

Like the Orange, the Bearcats are rolling out a new-look team. Arguably, their five best players from last year’s 15-17 team — Tymu Chenery (graduation), Gavin Walsh (UNC Wilmington), Ben Callahan-Gold (graduation), Nehemiah Benson (graduation) and Chris Walker (University of Illinois Chicago) — are no longer with the program.

Entering the Dome on opening night to face arguably its toughest opponent of the season, personally, doesn’t sound like it’ll go well for Binghamton. Give me the Orange by 18 in a wire-to-wire win.

Published on November 2, 2025 at 7:51 pm