Syracuse Basketball: Despite early losses, NY state neighbor a tough foe

After Syracuse basketball defeated Drexel by 15 points last Sunday evening on the Hill, head coach Jim Boeheim and several Orange players noted the team’s next opponent in their post-game press conferences.

That foe for the ‘Cuse is Colgate, a squad whose Hamilton, N.Y., campus is about 40 miles from SU. Not only are the Orange and the Raiders close to one another in proximity, but they’ve also suited up against each other on a boatload of occasions.

In fact, in the history of the ‘Cuse program, Syracuse basketball has competed versus this Patriot League member more than against any other group, a total of 172 times.

The Orange has dominated its series with Colgate, to the tune of 127-45, and the ‘Cuse has defeated the Raiders in 54-consecutive contests.

However, despite this historical outmuscling of Colgate, the Orange better not get complacent when it hosts the Raiders this Saturday in what should be an entertaining non-conference clash scheduled for a 5 pm tip-off.

Syracuse basketball has a challenge ahead when Colgate comes to town.

Boeheim and ‘Cuse players praised Colgate for its terrific season last year, for having a talented roster and for being well-coached, among other things.

In the 2020-21 term, Colgate had an abbreviated stanza due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Head coach Matt Langel guided the Raiders to a 14-2 mark, including 11-1 in the Patriot League.

This past spring, Colgate received a No. 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament, falling in the round of 64 to eventual Elite Eight participant and No. 3 seed Arkansas.

Ahead of the 2021-22 campaign, some prognosticators forecasted the Raiders to reach the Big Dance yet again. In the Patriot League’s pre-season poll, the Raiders were projected to finish No. 2 in the conference, behind Boston University.

Colgate senior guard Nelly Cummings could cause the Orange fits if the Syracuse basketball 2-3 zone isn’t laser-focused. Cummings was named to the Patriot League’s pre-season All-League squad.

Through the Raiders’ first four games of 2021-22, he was averaging nearly 17 points per contest, according to the ESPN Web site.

Now, it’s true that Colgate has struggled a little bit out of the gate this term. The Raiders (2-2) beat Northeastern, but then they lost two in a row.

Colgate gave N.C. State all that it could handle, but the Wolfpack prevailed at home by three points. Then the Raiders fell to Cornell on the road, before dispatching of SUNY Poly at home this past Thursday night.

For me, regardless of its early season record, Colgate only lost by three points at N.C. State. That’s a pretty good showing. I would expect Syracuse basketball to conquer the Raiders and move to 3-0, but Colgate is far from a non-conference cupcake.