Syracuse basketball will head to the Big Apple for 2024 Legends Classic

In the 2024-25 campaign, Syracuse basketball will make a trip to New York City to compete in an early season tournament, according to a media report.

College basketball insider Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, citing multiple sources, reported that the Orange is among several teams that are expected to play in the 2024 Legends Classic.

Rothstein says that three of the four expected participants at next year’s Legends Classic will be Syracuse basketball, Texas and Saint Joseph’s. The fourth squad is to be determined, he said, adding that the official dates and times of the 2024 Legends Classic are also TBD.

This season’s Legends Classic was held on November 16 and 17, a week before the Thanksgiving holiday, and the four groups that competed in the event were Auburn, fellow Atlantic Coast Conference member Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, and St. Bonaventure.

The 2023 Legends Classic took place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. I’m excited about this news, as I always enjoy seeing our beloved ‘Cuse play in the Big Apple, especially around the holidays.

Syracuse basketball, next year, will suit up in the Legends Classic.

Saint Joseph’s is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference. So far in 2023-24, the Hawks have a 4-2 overall record.

Per orangehoops.org, the ‘Cuse and Saint Joseph’s are 4-4 in their all-time series together. The last time that they played was back in November of 2007, when Syracuse basketball defeated the Hawks, 72-69, at home.

Texas is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, although the Longhorns are moving to the Southeastern Conference following the 2023-24 academic year.

At present in the 2023-24 campaign, Texas is 5-1 overall, with its only loss being to defending national champion UConn. In the most recent Associated Press top-25 poll, the Longhorns checked in at No. 16 across the country.

The Orange, in the program’s history, has battled Texas once, and it was on a big-time stage. In April of 2003, the teams met in the Final Four. Syracuse basketball legend Carmelo Anthony poured in 33 points as the ‘Cuse knocked off the top-seeded Longhorns, 95-84.

In that 2003 NCAA Tournament, the No. 3 seed Syracuse basketball would then face another Big 12 squad, No. 2 seed Kansas, in the national championship game. The Orange would hold off the Jayhawks, 81-78, to capture the first and only national title in the history of the ‘Cuse hoops program.

I would absolutely love, love, love to watch Syracuse basketball go toe to toe with Texas again, this time in the Orange’s home away from home, New York City. Fun.