Ideas for Syracuse basketball non-conference opponents in 2020

The NCAA is exploring different options for non-conference scheduling in 2020. Syracuse basketball may face some of these regional opponents.

The Covid-19 pandemic has time and time again forced new decisions to be made in order to ensure a safer work environment. For Syracuse basketball, this could mean a regionally based 2020 non-conference slate.

The Orange have already scheduled games against UMBC, Green Bay, Jacksonville State, Mercer, and LSU. But with the exception of UMBC, all of the other programs reside far from the northeast. If the NCAA were to adopt a regionally based non-conference scheduling format, Syracuse would be nixed of most of those games and need to find others.

Of course, this is all hypothetical, but it would be interesting to think of how cool it’d be if the Orange could face off with primarily northeast opponents this season. It would bring back old rivalries, potentially start up new ones, and connect the college basketball world in a new way. Here are some ideas for a ‘Cuse non-conference calendar in 2020, filled with quality opponents and interesting scenarios.

Georgetown

The Hoyas defeated the Orange last season, 89-79, in one of the worst defensive performances Syracuse had all season. This season, the long time rivals are not on each other’s schedules, but it would only make sense that they would link up if geography came in to play.

This matchup would not only continue the deep tradition between the two schools but would indubitably give both a chance for a quality win. Neither team has very high expectations heading into the 2020-21 season, but both play in ‘Power Six’ conferences and hold their heads high on a good non-conference victory.

UConn

Continuing with rivalries, when there’s Syracuse versus Georgetown, there needs to be SU and UConn too. More of a 2000s rivalry for the Orange, what better way to welcome Connecticut back to the Big East than for a non-conference match between two former Big East nemesis?

Syracuse leads the all-time series, 56-39, but Connecticut took the last one, an 83-76 win at Madison Square Garden on a snowy day in November 2018 (I’ve tried to nix this from my memory, after taking multiple trains from New Jersey in the middle of a snowstorm, just to watch Syracuse lay an egg).

Connecticut also holds four championships to Syracuse’s one, which has always been an argumentative point from the farmland University in Storrs.

Nonetheless, no matter whose side you’re on, you can agree that when these teams play, it will be close, edgy, and another chapter in a storied rivalry.

Seton Hall

Three Big East teams? Why not. The Pirates and Orange haven’t faced off since Syracuse split from the conference in 2013, but this just seems like a northeast rivalry that needs to start happening.

There isn’t much historical background between the two teams – Syracuse basketball has won 47 of 62 against Seton Hall. However, other than Villanova (another great potential game for SU), the Pirates have controlled college basketball in the northeast like few others over the past decade.

Unfortunately, we wouldn’t get to see Elijah Hughes and Myles Powell go toe-to-toe (the two played with each other in high school). But we would have a very entertaining game between two colleges who pride themselves on their basketball programs.

Rutgers

Staying with the New Jersey theme, Rutgers would be an interesting opponent for Syracuse basketball. The two schools will no longer play in football, but that isn’t stopping them from a basketball date for now.

There isn’t necessarily a rich history here. The two programs overlapped in their times in the Big East for a decent chunk, but not long enough to establish that much of a rivalry.

The Orange lead the all-time series, 30-8, also proving the fact that they’re not exactly on the same playing field.

With all of that being said, as a Big Ten opponent, Rutgers would provide Syracuse with one more decent non-conference matchup, and many college basketball experts think the Scarlet Knights could be in for a special season in 2020-21. Together, games against Georgetown, UConn, Seton Hall, and Rutgers would give ‘Cuse four very solid opportunities for quality wins, which can only help their case once Selection Sunday rolls around.

Buffalo

Those first four hypothetical games were fairly challenging, and so it’s safe to say from here on out, Syracuse basketball would have to have some easier games. While Buffalo isn’t the caliber of a UConn or Seton Hall, they would provide a decent mid-major challenge and would keep the ‘Cuse on their toes.

The Bulls actually beat the Orange two years back (again, another game I really wish I didn’t attend), during a year in which Buffalo couldn’t seem to lose. They’ve lost some key pieces since then, including Nate Oats. But if Oats could do that tremendous job after replacing Bobby Hurley,  current Buffalo coach, Lance Leipold, has some of the right keys in his hand already.

Sure, this isn’t the most eye-appealing matchup, but if it does happen, no one will be complaining.

Colgate

With Cornell and the Ivy league announcing the plan of having no non-conference games through January 1, that leaves out the potential for a Jimmy, Buddy, and Jim Boeheim basketball reunion. The next best thing? The Colgate Raiders.

The two central New York universities have played a total of 80 times, tied for the fifth-most games for any Syracuse opponent. The Orange have taken 69 of those, with the last win coming last season, as the ‘Cuse extended their series winning streak all the way back to 1963.

This game really wouldn’t hold much merit as far as NCAA Tournament value goes, but it’s a local rivalry that always creates a slight buzz around town.

Vermont

I cringe even writing this, but it has to happen. Not all of Syracuse’s non-conference games in 2020 can or need to be New York State teams. Vermont comes first to mind when talking out of state programs.

The two teams have played twice, with Syracuse winning the most recent game, 79-56. But the only one that really matters is the 2005 NCAA Tournament game in which the Catamounts upset the 12-seeded Orange, 60-57.

Syracuse deserves the chance to take the series lead and quite frankly, Vermont is no scrubs either. Anthony Lamb is gone, but their experience in big games could give the Orange quite a fight.

UMass

I thought outside the box on this one.

UMass and Syracuse basketball have faced off a total of 12 times, with UMass actually leading the all-time series, 7 to 5. They first played in 1962, but have only played twice since 2007, with the Minutemen taking both of those recent games.

In other words, this is an unspoken non-conference battle that has often slipped past Syracuse. Although UMass may not be a power conference team, they do play in a high mid-major conference and have a great basketball tradition.

It’d give the Orange a different flavor from their traditional rivalries and create the potential for a future yearly game.

How would the Orange fare?

Of course, this schedule would be purely hypothetical, but it would be a very intriguing interesting slate. The Orange would have a nice mix of Quad-1 opponents, toss-up games, and mid-major teams with the potential to make it a close game.

My gut tells me that Syracuse basketball would go 6-2 in this schedule. Sure, anything could happen, but the Buffalo, Colgate, Vermont, and UMass games should all go to the Orange. After that, the other four are really anyone’s game, but I’d lean more toward wins over UConn and Georgetown and losses to Seton Hall and Rutgers.

Will this happen? Unlikely, but there’s a good chance we see at least a few of these games being scheduled to localize teams.