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Orange Men’s Basketball Hosts 2025 Media Day
10/15/2025 5:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Syracuse men's basketball program opened its doors to the local media on Wednesday afternoon, granting members the opportunity to speak with Head Coach Adrian Autry and the 2025-26 edition of the Orange.
Autry kicked off the media session with a press conference, discussing the program's goals and maintaining that playing deep into March remains the goal.
"We want to be able to make deep March runs," Autry said. "That's always the goal."
The third-year head coach also touched upon some of the leaders for the program and what it means for them to have veterans J.J. Starling and Donnie Freeman back for the 2025-26 campaign. Starling, a senior guard, and Freeman, a sophomore forward, both spent time in the starting lineup last year.
"Anytime you get a guy like J.J. or Donnie coming back, that means a lot," Autry said. "Who wouldn't want J.J. Starling or Donnie Freeman on their roster?"
In addition to returning players Starling and Freeman, Syracuse has welcomed six transfers and five freshmen. The transfers include junior guard Naithan George, who led the ACC in assist average a season ago while enrolled at Georgia Tech, and redshirt senior guard Nate Kingz, who comes to Syracuse from Oregon State. The highly touted freshmen group includes top-40 recruits Sadiq White Jr. and Kiyan Anthony.
Autry discussed his excitement for the highly competitive schedule he and his staff built heading into the year. He specifically mentioned The Players Era Tournament as well as the SEC Challenge as opportunities for his team to match up with high-caliber opponents during the non-conference portion of the itinerary.
"You have to schedule quality opponents and balance those with wins," Autry said. "The Players Era Men's Championship gives us that, as does the ACC-SEC Challenge."
The Orange will take on last year's NCAA runner-up in Houston, perennial power Kansas, and a team to be determined at the Players Era Men's Championship in Las Vegas. The ACC-SEC Challenge will see the Orange host Tennessee at the JMA Wireless Dome on December 2.
The Orange open the campaign on Saturday, October 25, when they take on Buffalo in an exhibition. The game will take place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. Syracuse's first regular season tilt is Monday, November 3, when the Orange host Binghamton at the JMA Wirelss Dome.
Autry kicked off the media session with a press conference, discussing the program's goals and maintaining that playing deep into March remains the goal.
"We want to be able to make deep March runs," Autry said. "That's always the goal."
The third-year head coach also touched upon some of the leaders for the program and what it means for them to have veterans J.J. Starling and Donnie Freeman back for the 2025-26 campaign. Starling, a senior guard, and Freeman, a sophomore forward, both spent time in the starting lineup last year.
"Anytime you get a guy like J.J. or Donnie coming back, that means a lot," Autry said. "Who wouldn't want J.J. Starling or Donnie Freeman on their roster?"
In addition to returning players Starling and Freeman, Syracuse has welcomed six transfers and five freshmen. The transfers include junior guard Naithan George, who led the ACC in assist average a season ago while enrolled at Georgia Tech, and redshirt senior guard Nate Kingz, who comes to Syracuse from Oregon State. The highly touted freshmen group includes top-40 recruits Sadiq White Jr. and Kiyan Anthony.
Autry discussed his excitement for the highly competitive schedule he and his staff built heading into the year. He specifically mentioned The Players Era Tournament as well as the SEC Challenge as opportunities for his team to match up with high-caliber opponents during the non-conference portion of the itinerary.
"You have to schedule quality opponents and balance those with wins," Autry said. "The Players Era Men's Championship gives us that, as does the ACC-SEC Challenge."
The Orange will take on last year's NCAA runner-up in Houston, perennial power Kansas, and a team to be determined at the Players Era Men's Championship in Las Vegas. The ACC-SEC Challenge will see the Orange host Tennessee at the JMA Wireless Dome on December 2.
The Orange open the campaign on Saturday, October 25, when they take on Buffalo in an exhibition. The game will take place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo. Syracuse's first regular season tilt is Monday, November 3, when the Orange host Binghamton at the JMA Wirelss Dome.
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