Syracuse Basketball: Ranking the top-10 games for the Orange in 2021-22
By Neil Adler
Colgate
I’m sure some of my fellow Orange fans out there are wondering why the heck I’ve included the Syracuse basketball game against Colgate among my top-10 contests for 2021-22.
Well, the Raiders are a really, really good squad. And the fact that Colgate’s Hamilton, N.Y., campus is only about 40 miles from the Hill is neat.
Plus, in the history of its storied program, Syracuse basketball has suited up versus the Raiders more than against any other opponent, with these teams having collided a whopping 172 times.
All-time, the Orange is a dominating 127-45 against Colgate, and the ‘Cuse has emerged victorious on 54-straight occasions versus the Raiders. To that end, legendary head coach Jim Boeheim has never lost to this Central New York neighbor.
Could Colgate take down the Orange in 2021-22? Probably not, but like I said earlier, the Raiders are exceptional.
In the upcoming term, Syracuse basketball and Colgate will square off inside the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Nov. 20. Due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the ‘Cuse and the Raiders didn’t play during the 2020-21 stanza.
Last year, Colgate produced a wonderful 14-2 record amid an abbreviated season, and the Raiders went a stellar 11-1 in Patriot League competition.
This past spring, Colgate earned a No. 14 seed in the Big Dance, and it fell to No. 3 seed Arkansas, 85-68, in the round of 64. Arkansas would make it to the Elite Eight, by the way.
As far as the Orange and the Raiders are concerned, Syracuse basketball most recently defeated Colgate, 70-54, at home on Nov. 13, 2019.
According to cuse.com, the teams met for the first time way back in 1902, when Syracuse basketball prevailed, 33-8. That sounds like a football score to me!
The Raiders’ most-recent success against the Orange occurred in 1962 at the old Manley Field House, when Colgate snuck by the ‘Cuse, 67-63.
Head coach Matt Langel has done an admirable job leading the Raiders over the past decade, and I’m sure that he will have his boys ready to play when Colgate makes the short trip to clash with Syracuse basketball.