Syracuse Basketball: Ranking the best matchups on the 2018-19 schedule
By Neil Adler
With the 2018-19 campaign nearly upon us, let’s take a look at some of the juiciest match-ups that Syracuse basketball has on its schedule.
The SU hoops outfit commences its 2018-19 regular season in fewer than two weeks. Expectations are high, the pre-season accolades are flowing in, and I think we’re in line for a scintillating stanza.
Both in the non-conference slate, and during Atlantic Coast Conference competition, the ‘Cuse possesses a handful of duels that have me really excited. I figured that I would share them here to spark a bit of conversation.
Nov. 15-16
As part of the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Syracuse is going toe to toe with former Big East Conference rival Connecticut. The Huskies, under new head coach Danny Hurley, always prove a formidable foe for the Orange. My hope is that, following this encounter, SU will face off in the 2K Classic with Oregon, a legit top-15 unit with tons of young talent.
Nov. 28
The ‘Cuse travels to Columbus, Ohio, for a date with Ohio State in the annual ACC-Big Ten Challenge. The Orange has done so-so in this event, and a true road victory in the out-of-conference line-up would do wonders for our Big Dance resume.
Dec. 1
It’s a Boeheim-family affair inside the Carrier Dome, as SU big boss Jim Boeheim and freshman Buddy Boeheim welcome Cornell and sophomore Jimmy Boeheim. While I don’t expect the Big Red to knock off Syracuse, this is certainly an intriguing contest.
Dec. 8
Georgetown heads to Central New York. Need I say more? A repeat of last year’s outcome in Washington, D.C., will suffice.
Dec. 18
Buffalo returns to the Hill. The Bulls had a terrific 2017-18, including an upset of Arizona in the NCAA Tournament this past March. The ‘Cuse snuck by Buffalo roughly 12 months ago, and I predict another nail-bitter.
Dec. 29
An opportunity for the Orange to exact revenge, when St. Bonaventure collides with SU in the Carrier Dome. The Bonnies, a 2018 March Madness participant, defeated our beloved boys in overtime in 2017-18, a setback that really stung. It’s payback time.
Jan. 26
The ‘Cuse makes its way to Blacksburg, Va., for a showdown with Virginia Tech. Many college-basketball pundits project that SU and VT will battle for a top-four ACC finish, so notching a road conquest versus a strong opponent would prove fantastic.
Feb. 23
The mecca of all match-ups, as Duke and its cadre of freshmen stars will arrive in Central New York for a prime-time duel. The Blue Devils are considered a serious contender to capture the conference title and advance to the Final Four, so Syracuse will have its hands full.
Feb. 26
In the midst of a grueling stretch for the ‘Cuse, we go to Chapel Hill, N.C., for a date with North Carolina. UNC, per the norm, will likely amount to a top-10 group, due to its multiple weapons on offense. The Tar Heels have had the Orange’s number of late, including in the 2016 Final Four, so I’m not optimistic about this encounter.
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March 4
As ACC play winds down, SU hosts Virginia in what could prove a critical league tilt for both programs. Despite making history in the 2018 NCAA Tournament by becoming the first No. 1 seed to lose to a No. 16 seed, don’t discount the Cavaliers. UVA is extremely well-coached, has a terrific defense, and should finish at or near the top of the conference’s standings. People like to hate on Virginia, but I have the utmost respect for the Cavaliers and their tremendous head coach, Tony Bennett. Okay, I divulged my 2018-19 games to check out. Now, it’s your turn!