While there are still about six weeks remaining until the start of the 2026-27 college basketball season, practice begins later this month. The first exhibition games happen in mid-October, about a month from now.
With those things ramping up, teams undoubtedly would like to be at full strength right from day one, but unfortunately, it doesn't seem like that will be the case for the Syracuse Orange men's basketball team.
As noted by Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, transfer Garwey Dual, projected to see significant time at one of the guard spots, has still not been cleared for full contact as he recovers from an offseason collarbone injury. There's no word yet on when he will be cleared.
Perhaps it will be soon, leaving this worry for naught, but any delay in his ramp-up period or chance to play is a disappointment for Gerry McNamara's team.
About Dual
A transfer from McNeese State who helped them get to the NCAA Tournament in 2025-26, this will be the fourth school in four years for the guard. He committed to Syracuse back in mid-April, shortly after McNamara officially got the job.
In addition to McNeese State, he's also played at Providence and Seton Hall. He's started 45 games in those three years, including 17 last season for McNeese. He averaged 8.4 ppg and 4.4 assists.
Dual is also known as a dynamic defender, and at 6-foot-5, he can be a matchup problem for opponents, depending on how McNamara deploys him.
What needs to happen for SU now
Well, the Orange obviously need to get Dual healthy, whenever that is. But they also need to start figuring out their desired plans for minutes among the guard group. Dual, Gavin Doty and Aiden Tobiason are all right around 6-foot-5. One of them needs to be handle the point guard duties, and one needs to handle the shooting guard duties, it seems. Kiyan Anthony and Amarri Monroe, if he's deemed eligible, are also options for significant time at shooting guard or small forward.
Up next for the Orange
Syracuse begins its exhibition season on Oct. 13 when it travels to Connecticut to take on UConn at Mohegan Sun. The Huskies are coming off a season in which they went to the national title game, losing to Michigan.
Syracuse will also face Siena (Oct. 18) and Niagara (Oct. 24) in the exhibition season. The regular season begins on Nov. 2.