Syracuse Basketball's Gerry McNamara Faces Transfer Portal Challenge with Tyler Betsey's Departure

Story by

Will Chesanek

Fri, Apr 3, 2026 ·

2 min read

Gerry McNamara watched on as the Syracuse Orange came off a tough 2025-26 college basketball season. Finishing 14th in the ACC with a 15-17 record, Syracuse was led by sophomore guard Donnie Freeman in scoring at 16.5 points per game. He only appeared in 23 games for the Orange due to a right leg injury, leaving senior guard Nate Kingz as the team's next top scorer at 12.2 points per game.

Syracuse has not been the same since the retirement of head coach Jim Boeheim. The Orange have not made the NCAA Tournament since the 2020-21 season, marking a five-year drought for the program. Syracuse replaced Boeheim with Adrian Autry after the 2022-23 season, ending the 47-year tenure of the legendary head coach.

Former Siena Saints head coach Gerry McNamara.© Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
(© Alex Martin/Greenville News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Autry was let go on March 11 after yet another disappointing season. Syracuse Athletic Director Bryan Blair decided to hire McNamara as the ninth head coach in program history on March 22. As a member of the 2003 championship team that featured Carmelo Anthony , the Orange hopes he can bring the program back to prominence.

McNamara is faced with major program decisions early on, as it was reported by On3 on Friday that sophomore Tyler Betsey plans to enter the transfer portal. Betsey is a 6-foot-8 forward who averaged 6.7 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game in 31 games last season. He was impressive from deep, shooting a 40.7% percentage from three on four attempts per game.

Betsey started his college career with the Cincinnati Bearcats, arriving in Cincinnati as the No. 47 overall composite recruit according to 247Sports. He spent one season in Cincinnati, appearing in 34 games while averaging 3.3 points and 1.5 rebounds a game. After his freshman season with the Bearcats, he transferred to Syracuse for his sophomore season. Now, the sharpshooting forward will find a new destination for his junior year.

"NEWS: Syracuse forward Tyler Betsey plans to enter the @TransferPortal," tiptonedits wrote on Instagram. "source tells @On3. The 6-8 sophomore averaged 6.7 points per game this season. Began his career at Cincinnati. Represented by @lamfsports."

The NCAA men's college basketball transfer portal opens on April 7 and closes on April 21.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 3, 2026, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.