Jon Scheyer Admits Gerry McNamara "Outcoached" Him Before Syracuse Move

The Duke coach praised McNamara's readiness and toughness after Siena nearly upset the Blue Devils.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:10pm

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In the aftermath of Gerry McNamara's decision to leave Siena and become the next head coach at his alma mater Syracuse, a previous comment from Duke's Jon Scheyer has resurfaced. Scheyer admitted that McNamara "outcoached" him when Siena nearly upset Duke in the NCAA Tournament, praising the Siena team's readiness and toughness.

Why it matters

McNamara's move to Syracuse is seen as a seamless transition, as he played for the Orange from 2002-2006 and helped the team win a national championship. However, his ability to nearly upset a powerhouse program like Duke as the head coach of a mid-major school like Siena has raised expectations for what he can accomplish at Syracuse, which has struggled in recent years.

The details

Gerry McNamara is set to become the next head coach at Syracuse, his alma mater, after leading Siena to the NCAA Tournament this past season. In their first-round matchup, McNamara's Siena team nearly upset Duke, with Jon Scheyer admitting afterward that McNamara "outcoached" him and that the Siena team was "more ready to play" and showed greater "readiness and toughness" than Duke.

  • On Sunday, McNamara is set to be named the next head coach at Syracuse.
  • In March 2026, Siena nearly upset Duke in the NCAA Tournament.

The players

Gerry McNamara

The new head coach at Syracuse, McNamara played for the Orange from 2002-2006 and helped the team win a national championship. He spent the last two seasons as the head coach at Siena.

Jon Scheyer

The head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, Scheyer admitted that McNamara "outcoached" him when Siena nearly upset Duke in the NCAA Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“G-Mac, he outcoached me. They were more ready to play, and the readiness and toughness by our guys to weather that storm in the second half — I'm proud of them.”

— Jon Scheyer, Head Coach, Duke Blue Devils

What’s next

McNamara will now be tasked with bringing the Syracuse Orange back to prominence, as the program hasn't reached the NCAA Tournament since 2021 and hasn't won more than 20 games in a season since 2017.

The takeaway

McNamara's ability to nearly upset a powerhouse program like Duke as the head coach of a mid-major school like Siena has raised expectations for what he can accomplish at Syracuse, a traditional basketball blue blood that has struggled in recent years. His seamless transition back to his alma mater could signal a return to relevance for the Orange.