Syracuse Basketball: Analyzing what Donnie Freeman's return will mean for the 'Cuse

Big man Donnie Freeman is expected to return on New Year's Eve against Clemson. What does that mean for Syracuse basketball? | Rich Barnes-Imagn ImagesSyracuse basketball sophomore power forward Donnie Freeman, who has only played in four games during the 2025-26 season due to a lower-body injury, is expected to return to the line-up when the Orange opens Atlantic Coast Conference competition on New Year's Eve at home against Clemson.

So what should we expect upon the return of the 6-foot-9, 205-pound Freeman, who hails from Washington, D.C., and was a consensus five-star high school prospect in the 2024 class?

First and foremost, Freeman might need some time to swing back into things, from a…