Syracuse to Hire Gerry McNamara as Head Basketball Coach Syracuse University is set to hire Gerry McNamara as its next head basketball coach, according to sources who confirmed the deal is expected to finalize soon. McNamara, a former standout player and assistant coach for the Orange, will replace Jonny Flynn, who was fired earlier this month after failing to lead the team to the NCAA tournament in any of his three seasons. McNamara’s hiring comes after he guided Siena to the NCAA tournament in his first season as head coach, securing a spot in the MAAC conference tournament and leading the Saints to a historic upset against No. 1 seed Duke. The Saints became the first 16-seed in NCAA tournament history to lead a 1-seed by double digits at halftime. His two-year tenure at Siena saw the team post a 37-30 record, marking a significant turnaround for the program. McNamara’s connection to Syracuse runs deep. He was a key player for the Orange, helping them win a national championship in 2003 and later having his No. 3 jersey retired in 2003. He holds records for most 3-pointers made and minutes played in program history, earning All-Big East honors three times. After a brief professional career, McNamara returned to Syracuse as a graduate assistant in 2009 and was promoted to an assistant coach under Jim Boeheim in 2011. When Boeheim retired in 2023, McNamara was elevated to associate head coach under Adrian Autry, who later became the head coach. Syracuse athletic director Bryan Blair has been in frequent contact with McNamara, including in-person and virtual meetings, as the university sought a coach committed to NIL (name, image, likeness) opportunities and competitive success in the ACC. The hiring reflects Syracuse’s desire to rebuild its program, which struggled under Autry’s leadership.#syracuse_university #gerry_mcnamara #siena #jonny_flynn #bryan_blair
March Madness without the mayhem: NCAA Tournament short on upsets, Cinderellas after first round The first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament delivered a starkly predictable outcome, with top-seeded teams dominating their matchups and upsets remaining scarce. Favorites went 16-0 during Friday’s slate of games, marking the first time since 1992 that all top seeds advanced without a single loss. CBS Sports’ analysis revealed 14 teams won by 20 or more points in the opening two days, a record for the Round of 64. The tournament’s most lopsided victory came from No. 1 seed Florida, which crushed Prairie View A&M 114-55. The Gators set multiple single-game records, including a 64.3 field goal percentage, 29 assists, and a 59-point margin of victory. Florida joined five other teams in surpassing 100 points, a feat unmatched in NCAA Tournament history. Double-digit seeds also had a strong showing, with High Point (12th), VCU (11th), Texas (11th), and Texas A&M (10th) all advancing. High Point’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win came in a Thursday matchup against fifth-seeded Wisconsin, while VCU staged a historic comeback against sixth-seeded North Carolina. The Rams erased a 19-point deficit in their game, marking the largest first-round comeback in tournament history and the sixth-largest overall. Duke, the top seed, narrowly avoided a massive upset against 16th-seeded Siena. The Blue Devils overcame an 11-point halftime deficit, the largest ever for a No. 1 seed against a No. 16 opponent. Coach Jon Scheyer acknowledged the challenge, noting the team’s struggles early in the game and the pressure to rally. Standout performances highlighted the tournament’s first round. Kentucky’s overtime victory over Santa Clara featured a dramatic buzzer-beater from Otega Oweh, who scored 35 points to lead the Wildcats.#florida #duke #ncaa_tournament #prairie_view_am #siena
No. 1 Duke survived a close battle against No. 16 Siena in the Round of 64, securing a 71-65 victory and maintaining its path toward an NCAA Championship. Meanwhile, No. 9 TCU narrowly defeated No. 8 Ohio State, 66-64, with a game-winning layup from David Punch in the final 4.3 seconds. The two teams will face off in the Sweet 16 on Saturday, with bet365 offering a bonus code for users to receive $365 in bonus bets regardless of the outcome. The bonus code is available exclusively to new users signing up for an account, requiring a qualifying deposit and wager. The offer is valid in several states, including Arizona, Colorado, and Virginia, but excludes Illinois. Participants can use the bonus bets within seven days of receiving them. Duke’s path to the Sweet 16 is complicated by a thin rotation due to the absence of key players Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba II, which limits floor spacing and makes the team more vulnerable to defensive strategies targeting Cameron Boozer. TCU, however, remains a strong contender, ranked in the top 30 for Adjusted Defensive Efficiency (99.2). The Horned Frogs excel at forcing turnovers, defending without fouling, and controlling the glass. Offensively, they rely heavily on forwards David Punch, Xavier Edmonds, and Micah Robinson, while perimeter contributors like Jayden Pierre or Liutauras Lelevicius will be crucial to neutralizing Duke’s threat. The matchup between TCU and Duke highlights the competitive nature of the NCAA tournament, with both teams demonstrating resilience and skill. Fans and bettors alike will be watching closely as the two programs vie for a spot in the Sweet 16.#bet365 #duke #tcu #ohio_state #siena
Syracuse Should Consider Three Head Coaching Candidates Before Finalizing Gerry McNamara Hire Bryan Hodgson of South Florida and Josh Schertz of Saint Louis have been removed from Syracuse's list of potential head coaching candidates, with Siena's Gerry McNamara emerging as the leading contender for the Orange's vacant position, at least for now. McNamara has transformed Siena's program in his two seasons at the helm, guiding the Saints to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. The team, which won just four games in the 2024-25 season before his arrival, now faces No. 1 seed Duke in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 16 seed. His success has generated buzz for the Syracuse job, though officials may still explore other options. McNamara's rapid turnaround at Siena has been remarkable. After leading the Saints to a 21-13 record in his first season, the program secured an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. His ability to elevate a struggling program to national relevance has positioned him as a top candidate for Syracuse, which has struggled to find stability in its coaching ranks. However, the Orange's leadership may weigh other prospects before making a final decision. While hiring McNamara would be a positive move, I personally hope Syracuse's leadership explores other options, though I would fully support him regardless. The decision should prioritize long-term success over short-term hype. Before settling on McNamara, here are three additional candidates who could be viable choices for the Orange. John Groce, the head coach of Akron, has led the Zips to a 29-5 record and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid after winning the Mid-American Conference Tournament.#john_groce #gerry_mcnamara #siena #syracuse #shaheen_holloway
Siena coach Gerry McNamara: Focus on tournament, not Syracuse Siena head coach Gerry McNamara addressed rumors linking him to the vacant Syracuse coaching position, calling the speculation "inevitable," but emphasized his commitment to preparing his team for the NCAA tournament. Speaking ahead of the Saints’ opening-round matchup against No. 1 seed Duke, McNamara stated his priority was the game and his players. "These kids have given me everything they’ve got every day this season, and they deserve my full attention," he said. "That’s where my focus is." McNamara, a former Syracuse player and member of the 2003 national championship team, spent 15 years as an assistant coach with the Orange before joining Siena in 2023. Under his leadership, the Saints compiled a 23-11 record this season, including a MAAC tournament championship. His success, combined with his deep ties to Syracuse’s program, has placed him in the conversation for the vacant head coaching job at the Orange, which was vacated after Adrian Autry was fired following two consecutive NCAA tournament misses. McNamara acknowledged the speculation but framed it as a natural outcome of his achievements. "Because of what we’ve done here, my name is coming up," he said. "You get good players, you coach them right, you win, and everybody gets recognition." He noted that the timing of the Syracuse vacancy and Siena’s recent success made the situation "obviously going to be some speculation." Syracuse’s struggles in the NCAA tournament have been stark. The program has not advanced past the first round since 2021, a far cry from its dominant era in the 2000s when McNamara was a key player. He was a four-year starter for the Orange, leading them to four straight tournament appearances.#gerry_mcnamara #siena #syracuse #adrian_autry #jim_boeheim
