Syracuse Basketball: Ranking the top-10 games for the Orange in 2021-22

Duke

Did you honestly think I would put any other game at the top spot?

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and Syracuse basketball boss Jim Boeheim are dear friends, and they’re also the two winningest coaches in the history of Division I men’s hoops.

Coach K is retiring after the 2021-22 campaign, so this entire season is deservingly a farewell tour for Krzyzewski, who by many is considered the greatest head coach in the history of the sport.

With the Blue Devils, Krzyzewski has captured five NCAA Tournament titles and reached an insane 12 Final Fours. To put that into perspective, Boeheim is a legend in his own right, and he has as many Final Four appearances – five – as Krzyzewski has championships.

All-time, the Orange is 6-11 against Duke. Since joining the ACC, though, Syracuse basketball has picked up a couple of big-time victories over the Blue Devils.

As we discussed in a column a few months back, these two programs have engaged in some epic encounters of late. Hopefully, Duke and the ‘Cuse have at least two more left in them during the Krzyzewski era.

In the upcoming term, Syracuse basketball will travel to Durham, N.C., on Saturday, Jan. 22. And then, on Saturday, Feb. 26, the Blue Devils will suit up versus the Orange on the Hill, in the final contest between Krzyzewski and Boeheim.

I can’t wait to see what the Syracuse athletics department does to honor Krzyzewski. Maybe give him a Syracuse basketball jersey that’s totally Orange, but with a hint of blue in it?

Even though the ‘Cuse and Duke play twice in the 2021-22 ACC regular season, this article is about the top individual games, so I’ll go with the February 26 home meeting as the No. 1 battle for Syracuse basketball during the upcoming stanza.

In recent years, the Orange has broken the single-contest attendance record for a college basketball encounter on several occasions, and this swan song for Coach K against the ‘Cuse could absolutely accomplish that feat once more.

In 2020-21, the Blue Devils surprisingly struggled, going 13-11 overall and 9-9 in conference competition. Duke won two games in the ACC Tournament as the No. 10 seed, before having to forfeit its quarterfinal duel versus No. 2 seed Florida State because of Covid-19 protocols.

The Blue Devils didn’t make the NCAA Tournament this past spring, which is a rarity. However, Duke has reloaded for 2021-22 with an elite recruiting class, and we all know that Krzyzewski will put forth a strong final performance.

According to pundits, the Blue Devils should contend for the ACC regular-season and post-season titles, while doing their usual damage in March Madness.

Assuming that Duke is a top-10 team throughout the course of the upcoming stanza, Syracuse basketball will grab a marquee contest if it could conquer the Blue Devils in at least one of their two scheduled games.

Congratulations on an unparalleled head-coaching career, Coach K.