Syracuse, N.Y. – Donnie Freeman wasn’t sure if he was supposed to share this kind of intel with reporters.

But Freeman’s Syracuse basketball team had minutes earlier tied a neat bow on an 85-47 win over Binghamton on opening night in college basketball. The Orange played with the kind of intent and purpose that resulted in a 38-point win over a team Ken Pomeroy ranked 323 rd in the preseason.

In an era where the NCAA’s NET ranking greatly influences which teams play in the postseason, Adrian Autry kept reminding players during workouts that simply winning basketball games was no longer the sole objective.

If they wanted to play deep into March, they had to win big against teams like Binghamton.

“I mean, honestly, I don’t know if I’m supposed to say this or not, but he talks with us a

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