When Syracuse men's basketball opens its 2023-24 season against New Hampshire on Monday, it will be a clean slate for a squad with a lot of new talent and, ultimately, a new head coach.
After 47 seasons under Jim Boeheim, it's time for Adrian Autry to lead SU back to the promised land, which begins against UNH at the JMA Wireless Dome in a few days.
After a 17–15 mark in 2022-23, the Orange missed the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year and the third time in the previous four. Offensively, the ‘Cuse lost two of the team's top three scorers, Jesse Edwards (14.5 PPG) and Joseph Girard III (16.4 PPG), headed to West Virginia and Clemson.
The good news for Autry is that three of Syracuse’s starting five from last season are back, highlighted by point guard Judah Mintz. The sophomore is coming off an outstanding rookie season in which he averaged 16.3 points, 4.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. In addition to being recognized as a member of the Preseason All-ACC Second Team, Mintz was named to the coveted Bob Cousy Award Watch List, which is awarded to the best point guard in the country.
Plus, Autry made some moves in the transfer portal, bringing in some big names to bring depth to the roster. J.J. Starling, a Baldwinsville native, transferred out of Notre Dame after his rookie season. A former five-star and top-25 recruit, Starling made an immediate impact for the Fighting Irish, averaging 11.2 points per game.
In addition, the Orange brought in some serious size, led by Naheem McLeod. The 7-foot-4 junior is the tallest player in Syracuse basketball history. In both his freshman and sophomore seasons, the former Seminole averaged 4.5 points per contest.
On the Wildcats side of things, Nathan Davis takes over a new-look New Hampshire squad following eight years as head coach at Bucknell. This year, UNH will be led by Clarence Daniels, who did it all in his first year with the program. The senior started all 30 games and led the team in both scoring (15.3) and rebounds (10.7). A 2022-23 First-Team America East All-Conference selection, the Minnesota native shot nearly 41% from downtown.
The first-ever meeting between Syracuse and New Hampshire begins at 7:00 p.m. WAER’s coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. with McClurg Remodeling Countdown to Tipoff.
