With UMBC on board, a look at the Syracuse basketball non-conference

Syracuse basketball will reportedly face 2018 Big Dance darling UMBC during the 2020-21 campaign, adding to the Orange’s non-conference slate.

It is by no means a guarantee that Syracuse basketball will even compete in 2020-21, given the uncertainty brought to the sports world by the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, let’s remain optimistic, shall we?

Assuming that the Orange can suit up this fall, the ‘Cuse non-conference calendar is beginning to grow – and it’s proving an interesting docket at this juncture.

CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein tweeted out that Syracuse will host UMBC in the upcoming term. He didn’t provide details about date or time, but this is a fun addition to the schedule.

The Retrievers, as many of you know, shocked collegiate hoops in 2018, when UMBC became the first No. 16 seed to upset a No. 1 seed. That year, the Retrievers just so happened to stun fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member and No. 1 overall seed Virginia in the round of 64.

Before you start cracking jokes about the Cavaliers, though, keep in mind that UVA cut down the nets a stanza later, and Virginia will likely commence 2020-21 as a pre-season top-10 squad in the major polls. Syracuse? Not so much.

As it pertains to UMBC, the ‘Cuse has squared off with the Retrievers on one occasion in the past, per orangehoops.org. Syracuse bested UMBC, 93-86, inside the Carrier Dome on Dec. 15, 1992.

On a personal note, it’s fabulous that the Retrievers and the Orange are meeting up. One of my Mom’s alma maters is UMBC, and the school’s campus is about 15 miles from where I grew up in Maryland!

Having the Retrievers in tow pushes the ‘Cuse non-conference slate a smidge closer toward completion. Syracuse will battle Georgetown in Central New York in the latest edition of their ongoing series.

The Orange will also go toe to toe with Southeastern Conference participant LSU in the 2020 Gotham Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Solid mid-major Mercer will also head to the Hill for its inaugural clash with the ‘Cuse.

According to this article, the Mercer match-up is part of the Gotham Classic, with others in the field encompassing Green Bay and Jacksonville State. So it’s safe to assume that Syracuse will have games against these additional crews.

The Orange, naturally, will have an encounter in the annual ACC-Big Ten Challenge, and duels versus Empire State foes Colgate and Cornell are likely, too.

If my math is correct, then up to nine non-conference contests are perhaps on the table for the ‘Cuse, which means that possibly only a pair is left.

In case you’re wondering, UMBC wrapped up 2019-20 at 16-17 overall and 8-8 in the America East Conference, where the Retrievers finished tied for fourth in their league.

Ryan Odom, UMBC’s head coach, catapulted to an overnight national sensation after his team knocked off the Cavaliers in the spring of 2018. He is the son of Dave Odom, who led programs at East Carolina, South Carolina and the ACC’s Wake Forest.

Can’t wait for Syracuse basketball to get going again.