Syracuse Basketball: December 2017 Tussle With Kansas Officially Announced
By Neil Adler
Jim Boeheim’s Syracuse basketball program will have its hands full when facing off with college-hoops powerhouse Kansas this coming December. Inside the Loud House looks at the upcoming matchup this Fall.
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The Syracuse basketball squad will battle with Kansas on Dec. 2, 2017, as part of the Hoophall Miami Invitational, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Orange-Jayhawks clash, previously reported on by Jon Rothstein a few months ago, is now officially set, although the start time will get revealed down the road. The third annual event, airing on ESPN, will take place at the AmericanAirlines Arena and will also include local school Miami going toe-to-toe with Princeton.
Additionally, the Hoophall Miami Invitational will entail the ‘Cuse hosting contests with Oakland, Texas Southern and Toledo, says the press release and according to Syracuse.com’s Brent Axe:
Release says that both Syracuse and Kansas will also host Oakland University, University of Toledo and Texas Southern University for games.
— Brent Axe (@BrentAxeMedia) March 29, 2017
Head coach Jim Boeheim seemed happy about the quality of matchup and what it could mean to his team in the press release:
"“The opportunity to play a quality program like Kansas in Miami will be as strong a test as we could hope for our team.”"
That’s an understatement.
The Jayhawks, coming off a fairly surprising Elite Eight defeat to Oregon, will undoubtedly compete for the Big 12 conference and national championships in the 2017-18 campaign, as head coach Bill Self does seemingly every season.
Recent History Meets Past History:
Kansas wrapped up the 2016-17 stanza with a record of 31-5, and the Jayhawks earned a No. 1 seed in the current NCAA Tournament, according to ESPN.com. SU, meanwhile, bowed out in the NIT’s second round, finishing with a mark of 19-15.
Kansas Head Coach Bill Self, like Boeheim, also seemed happy about the matchup in his comments in the press release:
"“Year-in and year-out, Syracuse has been one of the best programs in the nation. Playing Syracuse in an NBA arena will be great exposure for our program.”"
All-time, the ‘Cuse is 3-2 versus Kansas, according to OrangeHoops.org. Most recently, the Orange bested the Jayhawks, 89-81 in overtime, at the 2008 CBE Classic title game in Kansas City. More importantly, Boeheim’s sole national championship occurred when Syracuse outlasted Kansas. In that matchup, the Orange defeated then-head coach Roy Williams, 81-78, in 2003, according to ESPN.com.
I hate to rub salt in the wound, but SU performed terribly during the non-conference slate in 2016-17. Syracuse Basketball fell to the likes of Connecticut, Georgetown, South Carolina, St. John’s and Wisconsin. If somehow, some way, Boeheim and his bunch could conquest the Jayhawks, that would prove huge as the ‘Cuse attempts to get back to the Big Dance.
Syracuse’s out-of-conference schedule for 2017-18, at this juncture, also features Georgetown, UConn and a yet to be determined foe in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, according to Syracuse.com.
Next: SU Basketball: Top 10 Moments During the 2016 Season
As myself and other Orange faithful would attest, a sweep of all these affairs is much appreciated. Maybe that’s wishful thinking. Then again, with James Arthur Boeheim at the helm, perhaps it’s not.