Syracuse will begin 2026-27 season against New Haven at JMA Wireless Dome
Syracuse men’s basketball will open Gerry McNamara’s first year as head coach against New Haven on Nov. 2, the program announced Thursday. Tara Deluca | Photo Editor
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Syracuse men’s basketball will open its 2026-27 season against New Haven on Monday, Nov. 2 in the JMA Wireless Dome, the program announced Thursday. The game will be Gerry McNamara’s first as SU’s head coach.
The matchup will be the first between the Orange and Chargers. In New Haven’s Division I season last year, it finished 14-17 overall and 9-9 in the Northeast Conference, including a win over eventual conference champion Long Island University.
Syracuse enters with several newcomers after the majority of its team from last year departed. Donnie Freeman transferred to St. John’s, William Kyle III signed with the Los Angeles Lakers as an undrafted free agent and Naithan George transferred to Pitt.
In their place, the Orange added six transfers, including former Siena standouts Gavin Doty and Francis Folefac and Temple guard Aiden Tobiason.
Meanwhile, freshmen Kiyan Anthony and Sadiq White Jr. were Syracuse’s only returners — the second straight season SU retains just two players from the previous year’s squad.
The Orange’s entire 2026 schedule has yet to be released, but their nonconference schedule is beginning to fill in. SU’s second game will be a home matchup against Central Connecticut State on Nov. 5, while it’s been reported Syracuse will also play Power 5 opponents like St. John’s, Indiana, Rutgers, Providence and Oklahoma.
