Syracuse Basketball: Even if just for a week, SU reliving old Big East days

Syracuse basketball has competed in the Atlantic Coast Conference since the 2013-14 campaign, although many Orange fans still yearn for the ‘Cuse to suit up in the old Big East Conference.

Personally, I’m torn. I get why the Orange moved to the ACC. Conference realignment and football revenue steered the relocation. The Big East, as it stands now, is not a football conference like the ACC, and Syracuse University had to bolt for greener pastures.

If we’re talking about the ACC, other teams such as Pittsburgh, Louisville and Notre Dame (except for football) made the same decision. I get it.

And, don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy watching the Orange go toe to toe with ACC heavyweights including Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida State and Louisville.

But do I miss the old days, when Syracuse basketball encountered Georgetown, Villanova, St. John’s, Connecticut and many others? You bet I do.

The Syracuse basketball upcoming non-conference slate has a Big East flavor.

While the ‘Cuse is in the ACC, and we’ll see what happens with possible future conference shake-ups, the Orange non-conference schedule for the 2021-22 term does have a juicy tint of Big East connections to it.

For one, on Saturday, Dec. 11, Syracuse basketball will travel to our nation’s capital to square off with those pesky Hoyas, per a recent announcement on cuse.com, as these two bitter rivals continue their series together even as members of different leagues.

A few days prior to that entertaining contest, the Orange will meet up with another former Big East foe, Villanova, on Tuesday, Dec. 7, as part of the 2021 Jimmy V Classic at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York City. That’s according to a recent article from Mike Waters of Syracuse.com.

I’m super pumped for this match-up, as the Wildcats are expected to be a pre-season top-five squad heading into the 2021-22 stanza, according to many national pundits.

What’s more, over the Thanksgiving holiday, from November 24-26, Syracuse basketball will participate in the loaded field at the 2021 Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis.

In its first game of this tournament, the ‘Cuse will play VCU. However, if the games break in the Battle 4 Atlantis a certain way, it’s possible that Syracuse basketball could duel against another long-time Big East adversary, Connecticut.

So in the span of a week, the Orange will collide with Georgetown and Villanova. A little bit earlier in the non-conference, Syracuse basketball could play UConn.

Hello, old Big East.