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Syracuse Basketball: Gerry McNamara Provides Injury Update on Aiden Tobiason
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- Syracuse Basketball: Gerry McNamara Provides Injury Update on Aiden Tobiason
Syracuse Orange men's basketball coach Gerry McNamara told reporters that transfer guard Aiden Tobiason likely won't play on Sunday afternoon in the team's second exhibition game, which comes against Siena at the MVP Arena in Albany.
Tobiason, who transferred in from Temple this offseason, left Tuesday's exhibition opener about four minutes into the game with a right leg injury. While you never like to speculate, it seemed pretty clear that it was a hamstring issue.
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While McNamara didn't definitively say that Tobiason won't play, he did say that they'd give him "a week or two," which essentially confirms that he won't. He said that they'll focus on having him healthy for the Nov. 2 season opener against New Haven.
A Delaware native, Tobiason is now a junior. He started 32 games for the Owls last season, who now compete in the American Conference, scoring 15.3 ppg on 48.0 percent shooting. He pulled down 3.7 rebounds and dished out two assists per game.
He was a member of the All-Freshman team in the AAC in 2024-25. He's shot 35.8 percent from 3-point range in his two collegiate seasons and he provides Syracuse with a much-needed ability to stretch the floor.
In fact, McNamara cited his absence as a reason why the Orange looked disjointed on offense in Tuesday's 72-52 loss against the UConn Huskies at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Syracuse Orange Aiden Tobiason (25) answer questions from the media during the ACC Tip-Off in Charlotte, NC. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
About Sunday's matchup
The matchup with the Saints kicks off at 2 p.m. ET and it will be a special one for everyone involved.
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Siena is going to raise the 2025-26 MAAC Championship banner at MVP Arena. The Saints won the league tournament and then nearly upset No. 1 Duke in the NCAA Tournament's Round of 64.
McNamara was the head coach of that Saints team last season and the architect of that championship team. Current Syracuse players Gavin Doty, Francis Folefac and Tasman Goodrick were also on that roster, with Doty serving as the best player. Siena has elected to raise the banner prior to the start of the regular season in order to appropriately honor these four people.
It's unclear when the banner raising will take place, but it will presumably come after the game so everyone can focus on the game at hand first.
Siena is now coached by Nevada Smith. This will be the first exhibition game of the season for them.
