The 2026-27 season for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team begins in a few days, which means there's no better time to share some predictions and deeper thoughts about this year's roster.
Syracuse will take the court on Monday for its first official game under new head coach Gerry McNamara. Who's the best player this year? How about the one with the most breakout potential? What are the most notable pluses and minuses for the 2026-27 Orange?
The TNIAAM crew is here to answer those questions:
Dom: Sadiq White Jr. or Aiden Tobiason
The latter enters the season with the most NBA potential for '27 and could be the most productive player in 26-27. I'd go with White Jr. He's on a very guard-heavy roster and has arguably the most versatile skill set on both ends of the court. In a larger role, he could be set for quite the sophomore year.
Sam: Aiden Tobiason
As long as Tobiason's hamstring injury doesn't linger too deep into the season, he should be the best player on this team. His trajectory is pointing upwards after a huge sophomore leap, and he'll have ample on-ball opportunity to take an even further leap as a creator. Additionally, he should be given license to weaponize his length more on the defensive side of the ball.
Szuba: Sadiq
Tobiason projects as this team's leading scorer provided he's healthy. White is the best athlete on this team though and has the potential to lead this team overall with his defensive play and the expansion of his offense. He'll have to rebound way better than he did in the exhibition slate and continue to play inside while selectively trying to showcase his outside shot. If he can avoid foul trouble and be a consistent floor presence White could lead this team. He has the highest ceiling of anyone on the roster.
Kevin: Tobiason
He's got the measurables that the NBA wanted a closer look at last summer and it sounds like the Orange want him to initiate the offense in addition to being a go-to scorer. If Syracuse is going to push tempo, then Tobiason could be a guy getting the opportunity to attack the rim in transition. Can he take his game up another level against ACC competition?
Max: Tobiason
Once healthy he is a true talent. As multiple others have said he is an NBA talent, and provides essential defensive play with his scoring. He is poised for a sophomore jump, and McNamara will be sure to give him the ability to shoot a lot.
Dom: White Jr.
He's the obvious contender, but I'm also intrigued by Mark Morano. On a team lacking three-point shooting, he could very well become a vital spark plug off the Orange bench. He's smaller for a three but could easily slot into that role if the three-guard lineups can't hold up defensively, and he brings some pedigree from his time overseas.
Sam: Sadiq White Jr.
It's pretty clear that White is Syracuse's breakout candidate. He'll have every opportunity to go from a 6.1 ppg scorer to a double-digit scorer. But he'll have those opportunities taken away if he doesn't rebound at a higher level than he did during the exhibitions.
Kevin: Ryan Moesch
I didn't think Moesch would be more than a back of the rotation option in his first year, but he showed he can be more this season. While I worry about how he'll hold up on defense, he's got an ability to push the pace and attack defenses.
Szuba: Sadiq again
But since we've talked about him at length, I'll go with another guy in Dual. He's going to be disruptive defensively with his length and I think we're already undervaluing that side of the ball, especially when Syracuse has to switch. Once Dual gets back up to game speed he should be capable of initiating the offense and comfortable shooting from the mid-range and scoring around the rim. He has the potential to showcase what he can do at the Power Five level.
Max: Sadiq
Pretty hard to not say him. He wasn't able to be his full self under Autry, and now with the starting role clearly built for him he will thrive. Will be able to score double-digits when given his chances.
Dom: The entire center rotation
Tasman Goodrick, Luke Wilson, and Abdramane Siby are competing against ACC-level frontcourts most of the year. The Orange have a few decent perimeter defenders, but even with all the versatility and switch potential on paper, this is a team with some defensive holes. Rebounding is especially a big concern.
Sam: Sadiq White Jr.
White showed some flashes in his freshman season, but he needs to impact the game in more categories this season. He needs to be a more dynamic face-up scorer, and he has to be an excellent defender as well.
Szuba: Abdramane Siby
Siby has size and length that nobody else on the team can match. Once he adjusts to the speed of the college game and understands how the staff needs him to play he could be a real difference-maker for this team, particularly on the defensive end.
Kevin: Mark Morano
I'm worried about the offense- especially outside shooting. Morano brings professional experience and has the reputation of being a bucket-getter. If he can handle business on the defensive end, he might earn a healthy dose of minutes as a freshman.
Max: Amarri Monroe
The late commit of Amarri Monroe is not talked about enough, it is a big addition. He has been a dominant force in the mid-majors the past two years and is a beast inside. His size is rare to come by with his play style, it will for sure be a special breed to see on the court.
Dom: Guard depth. There are various options GMac can go to at the one through three spots, whether due to injury and/or matchup. Plenty of potential there. I'm worried the three-point shooting woes during the exhibition games will translate into the regular season.
Sam: Guard length is a strength. This roster is built around the ability to switch defensively with Garwey Dual as the head of the snake, and the length that Aiden Tobiason and Gavin Doty can provide off the ball. Ryan Moesch is the only player under 6-foot-5 on the roster. Outside shooting is a mega-weakness. Outside of Mark Morano, there isn't one player that I'd call a reliable outside shooter. I think Tobiason and Doty can be, but they haven't proven it. They will play very ugly.
Kevin: Since this roster was finalized we heard all about the positional length that the staff compiled. This should be a team that can get after opponents in a variety of ways on defense- man, zone, pressure. The hope is that is the case because the outside shooting and halfcourt offense has looked non-threatening.
Szuba: Size is the most obvious answer. While this isn't the most talented roster, I do think the versatility and depth of this team could play a factor. The Orange have two very different types of point guards, a couple of good shooters in Tobiason and Morano, versatile wings in Doty and Monroe who can mix it up, bigs who go tall and bigs who go burly, as well as guys who can defend (Dual, White) and others who can attack off the bounce (Moesch, Anthony). We'll see how that all blends, but this seems like a team where guys 1-10 could play a role on any given night. The rebounding was concerning through the first two exhibition games and the jury is still out on how well this team can shoot as a collective from outside.
Max: Guard depth is a strength as previously stated, lots of places the coaching can go with it. The rebounding is a big issue though, especially with who they struggled against in exhibitions.
Now it's your turn: what do you think about our takes, and who are the most important players on this year's Syracuse squad?
