Syracuse Basketball: NIT Preseason tournament schedule locked in for SU

We knew Syracuse basketball was playing in the preseason NIT tournament in 2019, but now we know who they’ll be playing. Here are the details.

There are a few shrouds of mystery left to be solved to complete the 2019-20 Syracuse basketball schedule.

Thanks to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports one more mystery has been solved.

Syracuse basketball team will face off against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Preseason NIT. While on the other side of the bracket we’ll see Ole Miss vs Penn State. The winners of both games will then face off in the second round and the losers from both games will also meet on the hardwood.

We already knew all the participants of the tournament previously, but we didn’t know who would be facing who.

A new look Cuse squad, led by Elijah Hughes, will be headed to Brooklyn after beginning the schedule at home. Only three contest is currently scheduled before the match up with OSU:

• Normal early-season in-state foes in Colgate (November 13) and Cornell (November 20) come to the Carrier Dome.
• However, the Preseason NIT will not be the first time SU will be challenged this year as they will begin the season at home against the defending National Champion, Virginia Cavaliers November 6.

The Cowboys will be a great test for a young Syracuse team. Oklahoma State will be returning all three of the leading scorers: Cameron McGriff (12.3), Lindy Waters III (12.2), and Thomas Dziagwa (11.7).

Waters III was the leading three-point shooter as well as the second-highest scorer. This gives OK State some hope after a disappointing 12-20 season that saw them finish second to last in the Big 12 in 2018-2019.

The Cowboys ranked 69th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 117th in adjusted defensive efficiency in the country last season. 39 percent of their points per game came via the three ball a year ago, while shooting only 46 percent from the field inside the arc which was 319th out of 353 teams last season.

With a team with so many new faces, only time will tell how Syracuse will truly match up with the Cowboys. However, the same formula we have seen from the Orange will be required to make the tournament final.

New and unproven guys will have to step up and play tough defense and if that is zone, with man-to-man teased in the upcoming Italy trip, will have to prevent open perimeter opportunities while limiting second shot opportunities and causing turnovers.

Oklahoma State proved formidable with a top ranking in the turnover percentage by their offense is in the top 150 in the country in three-point shooting.

Playing another power conference team is only helpful to Syracuse’s tournament odds and preparedness going into the remainder of the ACC schedule. The tournament semi-finals and finals will take place over two days in Brooklyn. The semi-final will be November 27 with the finals and third-place game November 29.