In an enticing match-up, the Syracuse basketball squad will travel to Ohio State as part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. We think that counts as a road tilt.
It’s the same old, tired tale.
The SU hoops outfit never leaves the Empire State during the non-conference slate, and it consistently plays a bunch of cupcakes before Atlantic Coast Conference competition commences.
I have one word to say about that: non-sense.
First and foremost, the Orange’s out-of-conference strength of schedule is generally pretty solid, and it proved quite strong during the 2017-18 stanza.
In fact, Syracuse’s non-conference RPI is one of the main reasons that it got into the 2018 Big Dance, eventually making a surprising run to the Sweet 16.
As we look ahead to the upcoming term, SU’s out-of-conference line-up appears challenging, to say the least.
The newest duel for the ‘Cuse, per a tweet from college-basketball guru Jon Rothstein, is at Ohio State in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge.
Rothstein, who works for both CBS Sports and the FanRag Sports Network, wrote on Thursday about the battles that will occur in the annual ACC-Big Ten Challenge. He cited “multiple sources.”
In his piece, Rothstein added, “An official announcement is expected soon. Official dates and times are still yet to be determined.”
Game Announcement: Syracuse will play at Ohio State on 11/28 as part of the #ACCB1G Challengehttps://t.co/9pLTIggRHP pic.twitter.com/Ewhj84hW9U
— Syracuse Men’s Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) June 1, 2018
So there you have it. The Orange will go to Columbus, Ohio, to face off with the Buckeyes.
This is a juicy affair. SU returns all five starters from a season ago, while Ohio State in 2017-18 finished 25–9, in a tie for second place in the Big Ten, and then fell in the second round of March Madness.
Since joining the ACC, Syracuse has sported a 2-3 mark in this event versus the Big Ten, defeating Indiana and Maryland, while losing to Wisconsin twice, as well as Michigan.
Overall in its series with the Buckeyes, the ‘Cuse is 2-5, most recently experiencing a 77-70 setback to OSU in the Elite Eight of the 2012 NCAA Tournament. That outcome absolutely stung, as the officiating, in my humble opinion, proved particularly putrid.
So far in the 2018-19 non-conference schedule for the Orange, it will host Buffalo, Cornell, Georgetown and Old Dominion. Syracuse will also have two opponents come to the Carrier Dome for the 2K Classic, and SU will get a pair of foes from the trio of Connecticut, Iowa and Oregon. Those contests, also in the 2K Classic, will transpire at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Finally, there’s Ohio State – the first true road game revealed for our boys.
If my math is correct, we now know nine of the ‘Cuse’s 13 out-of-conference encounters.
I think that, yet again, SU’s non-conference RPI will ultimately prove excellent. I can’t wait for collegiate hoops to begin.
Next: Syracuse Basketball: Top 30 Players in School History
And, I’m almost positive that Columbus is not in the state of New York. Correct me if I’m wrong.