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Syracuse Basketball: Three Takeaways From ACC Tip-Off Event
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- Syracuse Basketball: Three Takeaways From ACC Tip-Off Event
(Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)
The Syracuse Orange women's basketball program had a chance to speak in front of local, regional, and national media outlets on Tuesday during the ACC's Basketball Tip-Off event in Charlotte, N.C.
All 18 of the conference's women's basketball programs were represented during the event, which was held over a two-day span on the women's side. Some of the men's teams spoke on Tuesday as well, with the rest of them finishing up on Wednesday.
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Gerry McNamara and his squad will have their session on Wednesday.
Along with head coach Felissa Legette-Jack, two other members of the women's team represented the program on Tuesday.
Which players represented Syracuse?
Uche Izoje-
Izoje, a 6-foot-3 center from Nigeria, was the 2025-26 ACC Rookie of the Year and a unanimous First Team All-ACC selection. Izoje led Syracuse in scoring and rebounds while also leading the entire ACC in blocks per game with 2.6. With the graduation of Domonique Darius and the transfer of Maddie Potts and Sophie Burrows, Izoje is unquestionably the leader of this team.
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Angelica Velez-
A senior guard from the Bronx, N.Y., Velez joined Syracuse from LSU in the offseason. The 5-foot-7 playmaker is projected to play a pivotal role for the Orange in the backcourt, especially after the departures of the three players mentioned above.
What were the three biggest takeaways from the event?
1-Welcome Angelica Velez
-Orange fans had the chance to see and hear from the LSU transfer for the first time on Tuesday. Velez, or "Gelo," as social media platforms have referred to her as, showed her personality off to a new group media members. While personality doesn't equate to victories, it will be a welcome trait for this team, especially as it replaces several key players from a year ago.
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Leadership and character will be important, and Velez seems to have it.
2-Why did Uche Izoje stay?
Izoje could have left the program and tested the transfer portal but returned for her sophomore season. Izoje noted that her head coach and her messaging was a big reason as to why she stayed
"anything she says, that's what she says she is going to do. She keeps that promise"
3-"Run Through A Wall"
The most memorable moment, and one of the most interacted posts via social media, was Legette-Jack's quote about her players willing to "run through a wall" for her . Legette-Jack offered up a comparison of what she has done for team and why she knows her team will play tough this season. The passion serves as something Orange fans should be excited about this season.
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What's up next for the Syracuse's women's basketball team?
Legette-Jack, Izoje and Velez will all return to Central New York for the team's open practice on Wednesday morning. The following Monday, Syracuse will play against the UConn Huskies in an exhibition game at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The game is scheduled air on NBC Boston and on cuse.com/watch.
UConn eliminated the Orange in the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
