For much of Syracuse basketball's 2025-26 campaign, the team's defense has been its calling card, a pleasant surprise given how porous the Orange's defense proved last season.
Over the past three Atlantic Coast Conference games, all wins for the 'Cuse, the squad has seen its defense take a slight dip, yet the Orange's offense has really upped its game.
Syracuse basketball doesn't want to get away from its defensive prowess in 2025-26, if it wants to hear its name called on Selection Sunday for the first occasion since 2021. At the same time, with sophomore power forward Donnie Freeman back and playing at an ultra-high level, the 'Cuse offense has clearly got a jolt, and that bodes well for the team's prospects moving forward.