SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Oncenter War Memorial in Central New York generally hosts American Hockey League (AHL) action as the home venue for the Syracuse Crunch. But Thursday night was different, as the venue turned into a home atmosphere for ‘Boeheim’s Army,’ a team filled with past Syracuse basketball players. A raucous crowd watched on as ‘Boeheim’s Army’ defeated Hall In (a Seton Hall alumni team) 81-76 to advance in the famed ‘TBT’ Tournament.
Because the subsequent rounds of the ‘TBT’ are going to be played in different cities, the Thursday victory is the last time Syracuse basketball fans will get to see the team compete in its hometown. Fans in attendance Thursday night were given a chance to cheer on a winning basketball team wearing the school’s colors, something Syracuse fans had longed for.
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The 2025-26 Syracuse men’s basketball season was a historic one – for all the wrong reasons. The Orange missed the NCAA Tournament, extending the school record to a fifth consecutive non-tournament season. Syracuse then parted ways with head coach Adrian Autry. In three seasons, Autry never made a single postseason tournament, and given the nature of college athletics these days, there were several defections from the program as well.
Given all the recent struggles, Orange fans would likely struggle to quickly identify their two best home wins last season. Or, the two best home wins of the last three seasons. Or the last five seasons. It’s been a difficult trend.
Syracuse home games, in past years, would feature record-breaking crowds and upsets of top five teams of the country. In other seasons, the Orange would be a top-ranked team and create one of the toughest home crowds for opponents to compete in.
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It hasn’t been that way for a while.
Syracuse Orange guard Eric Devendorf (23) drives the ball past the Connecticut Huskies in the second half at Gampel Pavillion. UConn defeated Syracuse 63-49. David Butler II-Imagn Images
As local reporter Mike Lindsley shared with me on Thursday night, the TBT event felt like an Old Timer’s Game in baseball. Fans have a chance to watch their favorite players compete, with a new generation of fans who may have been too young to see those players compete as college athletes. It’s a nice blending of generations.
In similar fashion, those fond memories of winning basketball games and celebrating wins have come less frequent for Orange hoops supporters. The feeling inside the Oncenter War Memorial was that of hope: with fans hoping that a positive change could be underway under Gerry McNamara.
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For one night in July, Orange fans were able to celebrate a blue and orange squad coming away as victors. Likely all of those fans left hoping that more victories like this are on the for those players’ alma mater for the future.
‘Boeheim’s Army’ will now face La Familia (Team Kentucky) as they closed out their opening round series with a 63-57 win on Wednesday night against The Ville (Team Louisville). Tip-off on Sunday at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ken. is set for 2:00 p.m. ET. That semifinal is a winner-take-all game.
‘Boeheim’s Army’s’ path to a championship is much clearer after Thursday’s win. As for the Orange men’s basketball team, far more questions are still left to be answered.
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How will Gerry McNamara adjust from being head coach from a low-major (Siena) to a Power 4 conference? How will transfers like Gavin Doty, Francis Folefac and Tasman Goodrick adjust to ACC play after playing in the Metro last season? Will the Orange be selected to play in the NCAA tournament for the first time in front of fans since 2019? (The Orange played in the 2021 tournament, but fans were not allowed in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandenmic).
The Orange have locked in some dates and times for the 2026-2027 regular season schedule
–The team’s first home regular season game will be against New Haven on Nov. 2
–The Orange will also play Central Connecticut State later that week, at home, on Nov. 5.
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–A game inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis against Indiana on Nov. 9.
–As a part of the ACC/SEC Challenge, the host will take on Oklahoma on Dec 1.
–Syracuse will host Colgate on Dec. 8.
–The Orange host fellow New York state school Cansisus on Dec. 16.
–In a revival of an old BIG EAST matchup, the Orange will play Providence in Boston at the TD Garden on Dec. 19.
An announced game against St. John’s plus all conference games dates and times have yet to be confirmed.
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