Syracuse Men's & Women's Basketball Embracing New Beginnings

Much has changed for both the Orange programs.

Anticipation is ramping up for the Syracuse Orange’s basketball season, as both the men’s and women’s teams conducted their first media day of the year this past weekend. From new recruits joining the teams to seasoned veterans making their returns, it looks like an exciting season is underway.

However, there was a notable absence at the women’s media day. Head coach Felicia Legette-Jack was absent due to an undisclosed medical procedure. No timetable for her return was given.

The event still offered an opportunity to meet fresh faces on Syracuse’s squad.

For incoming graduate student Dominique Camp, joining the Orange isn’t just a new beginning. It’s reuniting with an old friend. Camp played under Coach Jack at the University of Buffalo during the 2021-2022 season. While Coach Jack headed to Syracuse the following year, Camp transferred to the University of Akron. Now she’s one of five former Buffalo players to rejoin Coach Jack, a group that includes Dyaisha Fair, Georgia Woolley, Saniaa Wilson, and Cheyenne McEvans.

“It means everything to me,” Camp says. “It all worked out in the end, coming back to play for Coach Jack at this amazing university where she actually did so many great things, it means everything.”

Camp also played for Sinclair Community College and Troy University. She is looking forward to using her experience from different programs to step up as a leader for the Orange.

“I think that that's where my leadership role came from,” she explains. “I've learned how to adapt to different systems and learn how to adapt to different people. So being able to do different things with my teammates and talk to them, that’s important.”

Another newcomer is center Izabel Varejão, another graduate student hailing from the University of Michigan. Originally from Vitoria-Espirito Santo, Brazil, Varejão joins Syracuse’s squad with years of Big Ten experience under her belt.

“How the centers play in the Big Ten is so different,” Varejão explained. “Big Ten is more back to the basket, powerful centers. And I feel like the ACC is very agile, like fast forwards and big, so it's going to be a little different. But I feel like I can use it towards my advantage.”

Varejão says she’s familiar with a high level of NCAA play. During her junior year, Varejão helped the Wolverines make the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament. She’ll be looking to recreate that magic in orange.

Over on the men’s side, things are looking a little different - the first season without longtime head coach Jim Boeheim. With star point guard Judah Mintz returning to the team and a healthy roster, head coach Adrian Autry is looking forward to leading the program to new heights.

The first step? Focusing on a more aggressive style of man-to-man defense.

It’ll also help to now have JJ Starling, a coveted 5-star recruit from Notre Dame. Coach Autry’s known the sophomore guard for quite some time – since Starling was seven years old, in fact.

Starling says he’s excited to play in the Dome again, especially with the crowd on his side this time.

“It was great playing here when I was at Notre Dame,” Starling says. “I was able to feel the atmosphere, but not to the full extent because I was on the opposing team. But now I'm finally in the orange. I know it’s going to be great.”

Both teams will be in action at Monroe Madness in Rochester this Saturday. The regular season begins on November 6th for the men and November 7th for the women.

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