Syracuse Orange

The Syracuse Orange are one of college basketball's most recognizable brands, instantly identified by Jim Boeheim's signature 2-3 zone defense and the massive crowds that fill the JMA Wireless Dome. For decades, Syracuse combined disruptive team defense with a knack for producing NBA talent, making the Orange a perpetual national title contender. Few programs have been so closely tied to one coach and one defensive scheme for so long.

Syracuse won its only NCAA men's basketball championship in 2003, led by freshman Carmelo Anthony, defeating Kansas in the title game. Jim Boeheim coached the Orange for 47 seasons, from 1976 to 2023, becoming one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history and building the program's identity around his famed 2-3 zone. Syracuse moved from the Big East to the ACC in 2013 and remains a program synonymous with defensive-minded, deep NCAA Tournament runs.