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The tune-up is over. Syracuse’s chance at reviving its national brand is here. The Orange breezed through its first four games with wins over nonconference lightweights Binghamton, Delaware State, Drexel and Monmouth. Despite three blowout victories, a close game against Monmouth brought uncertainty about who SU really is. Heading to Las Vegas, Syracuse will be forced to prove it has arrived.

As part of the Player’s Era Festival, the Orange take on No. 2 Houston Monday. The Cougars fell in the national championship last season and began their 2025-26 campaign with five straight wins, one coming against then-No. 22 Auburn. Houston is in its 12th year under head coach Kelvin Sampson.

Here’s how our beat writers think Syracuse (4-0, Atlantic Coast) will fare against Houston (5-0, Big 12) Monday in Las Vegas:

Aiden Stepansky (4-0)
The wannabes
Syracuse 61, Houston 70

Houston exemplifies a lot of what Adrian Autry hopes to build Syracuse into. The Cougars, year after year, evolve into a top team in the country through their defensive identity. Per KenPom, the squad has ranked as a top-10 defensive team nationally each of the last five seasons and stands as the top defensive team entering Vegas.

In his third year, Autry has made it clear that SU wants to build through its defense. The first three games showed the idea to perfection, allowing 50 or fewer points per game. Versus Monmouth, the Orange slipped up and nearly lost the game. With that being said, it’s tough to beat Houston’s defense. While Syracuse is headed in the right direction, it still has a ways to go. The Cougars will prove who is for real and who are wannabees.

While J.J. Starling will likely perform better with a game under his belt, the Orange took a noticeable defensive step back Tuesday. The trend can’t continue against Houston, as it ranks 25th in offensive adjusted efficiency. Syracuse will be in this game, but there will be one four-minute stretch where Houston takes over. SU won’t be able to recover, ultimately dropping the contest.

These are the games that could make or break Autry’s job status come March. Syracuse isn’t expected to win this game, though SU needs to stay in it. The Orange will do that, yet it still won’t be enough for a program-altering upset.

Cooper Andrews (4-0)
Calling the Orange’s bluff
Syracuse 62, Houston 79

Don’t get me wrong: I think Syracuse could very well be a March Madness team when this season’s over. However, Houston is going to call SU’s bluff in Las Vegas when the Cougars show the Orange that it takes more than beating creampuff opponents to show you’ve turned the program around.

This is an unavoidable blunder for Syracuse — whose 73 points allowed versus Monmouth last game doesn’t spell any confidence for its defense’s first test of 2025-26. The Orange say their identity is playing elite defense. They ranked near the top of every advanced defensive metric after throttling Binghamton, Delaware State and Drexel. But, to me, instantly falling into last year’s bad defending habits after a mere three games is a rough sign for SU’s Vegas trip.

Sometimes, you have to fail in order to succeed. That’s what I think will happen to the Orange when they face Sampson’s squad to open their Players Era Championship appearance. Houston’s backcourt duo of Emanuel Sharp and Kingston Flemings, who each average over 15 points a game, are too dangerous for Naithan George and Starling to fend off without immense help. Flemings’ absurd 71.4% field goal percentage is a cause for grave concern. I struggle to see how SU can stop him while also containing Chris Cenac Jr. and Joseph Tugler on the glass.

The Orange will probably trail for most of this game and lose by around 15-to-20. Maybe it’ll be the reality check Syracuse needs before facing a much-more beatable Kansas team.

Justin Girshon (4-0)
Big leagues are calling
Syracuse 66, Houston 71

Some of the best videos on social media are when a baseball prospect in the minor leagues gets called up to the big leagues. Their hard work culminates in a moment they’ve dreamed of their whole lives, but in some cases, there’s a substantial learning curve after they’re promoted.

Syracuse going from facing Binghamton, Delaware State, Drexel and Monmouth to Houston and Kansas is akin to a baseball prospect receiving a promotion. And like prospects who struggle in their first taste of the big leagues, the Orange will face a similar reality against the Cougars.

However, this will be a close game. Houston is a far different team than it was last year when it made the National Championship, so heading to Las Vegas isn’t an environment nearly half of its rotation is used to.

With L.J. Cryer — the Cougars’ leading scorer last year — graduated, Sampson’s offense has changed drastically, as freshmen Flemings and Cenac are now two of his three leading scorers. What hasn’t changed, though, is Houston’s stout defense, which KenPom ranks as the best in the country.

Monday’s matchup will definitely be a wake-up call for SU. But I foresee the Orange hanging around and showing reason to believe they can beat a Darryn Peterson-less Kansas Tuesday.

Published on November 23, 2025 at 3:18 pm