Syracuse, N.Y. – If you watched the Syracuse Orange basketball team struggle defensively last season, you might be doing a double-take at what you’re seeing on the court so far this season.

Through the first two games of the 2025-26 season, the Orange’s defense has been downright stifling, holding Binghamton to 47 points and absolutely smothering Delaware State in an 83-43 blowout this past Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome.

But as impressive as these performances have been, the question remains: Does this newfound defensive identity actually mean anything, or is it just the product of playing against severely overmatched opponents?

Syracuse.com basketball reporters Mike Waters and Donna Ditota discussed the Orange’s defensive improvement in the latest edition of the Inside Syracuse Bas

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