Syracuse basketball opened the Gerry McNamara era with a 74-58 victory over New Haven on Monday night.
And apparently, G-Mac wasn’t particularly happy. He said he was “disgusted” by parts of the game, he called Ryan Moesch’s performance “terrible” and said they’ll need to “grow up fast.”
That’s interesting.
Because I watched the same game and came away feeling pretty encouraged about what I saw.
Not because Syracuse beat New Haven. That’s supposed to happen. Not because the Orange looked like an NCAA Tournament contender. They didn’t. They certainly started to swoon in the second half, and the crispness began to erode.
But because something about the entire evening felt different.
And maybe McNamara’s frustration is actually part of what makes this new era so promising.
For years, Syracuse basketball has seemed stuck in a cycle of declining expectations. Missed NCAA Tournaments became normal. Disappointing performances became familiar. The energy surrounding the program gradually faded.
Monday night felt like an effort to change that.
The university distributed 5,000 Gerry McNamara jerseys to students. The pregame video celebrating his journey from high school sensation to national champion to head coach was outstanding.
The Dome had life.
And athletic director Bryan Blair made it clear during the ACC Network broadcast that the university was willing to invest in creating that atmosphere.
That’s important.
Syracuse wasn’t hosting Duke or North Carolina. This was New Haven.
Yet the athletic department treated the night like it mattered.
And the players largely responded the same way, at least in the first half.
I saw defensive rotations that looked purposeful. Players cutting hard to the basket. Teammates finding those cutters. Extra passes. Aggressive attacks.
Was it perfect? Absolutely not.
But it didn’t feel like a team simply going through the motions against an overmatched opponent.
That has been a recurring frustration with Syracuse basketball in recent years.
And it’s why I keep thinking about something McNamara told me during our interview at Apex Sports and Entertainment.
He believes this first recruiting class can change the trajectory of Syracuse basketball by establishing a new standard of effort and accountability.
Monday night offered our first glimpse of what that might look like.
Kiyan Anthony was another positive.
After an underwhelming preseason that generated plenty of unnecessary concern, Anthony scored 17 points and looked much more comfortable attacking the basket.
Sadiq White brought the aggressive mentality Syracuse needs, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
And Gavin Doty impressed me with 14 points and 13 rebounds. I think he’s going to become a very good ACC player as he adjusts to this level.
There were problems, too.
Ryan Moesch went 0-for-8 from the field, although he contributed five assists. Syracuse still needs to establish reliable perimeter shooting. And the offense remains a work in progress, particularly with the uncertainty surrounding Nate Tobias.
McNamara has plenty to address.
But that’s precisely why his dissatisfaction might be encouraging.
There’s a difference between being unhappy with a victory and refusing to become comfortable with mediocrity.
Syracuse won by 16. McNamara could have celebrated his homecoming, praised the atmosphere and moved on.
Instead, his reaction suggests he expects considerably more.
Good.
That’s what Syracuse basketball needs.
The Orange don’t need to be a finished product in November. They need to establish habits that will matter in January and February.
I’ve said since the preseason that I expect this team to be significantly better in February than it is right now.
That means accepting some growing pains while demanding consistent effort.
Because restoring Syracuse basketball isn’t simply about winning games you’re supposed to win.
It’s about restoring a standard where winning those games isn’t nearly enough.
