Syracuse basketball is likely to play a non-conference game at Madison Square Garden in New York City in the upcoming season, and rumors are swirling that St. John's might be the opponent.
Nothing has been announced yet. Syracuse.com's Donna Ditota reports that the Orange is negotiating a game at the world's most famous arena, something that head coach Gerry McNamara hinted at not too long ago.
In her article, Ditota spoke with Peter Corasaniti, an all-around good guy who recently became associate athletics director of men's basketball and operations at Syracuse University. Corasaniti didn't say if St. John's is going to be SU's foe at MSG, but he did say a deal for the Orange to play at the Garden "could be imminent."
Corasaniti says it's tricky to schedule contests at MSG, given all the teams (the New York Knicks, for example) and entertainment acts that play there. “The Garden is so hard to work," he told Syracuse.com.
St. John's, a Big East Conference member, also suits up at Madison Square Garden. Should the Red Storm face the 'Cuse in the Big Apple, the storylines would write themselves.
Syracuse basketball against St. John's at MSG would be phenomenal.
For one, the Orange and St. John's are long-time foes who used to battle all the time before SU bolted for the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 2013-14 campaign. In their all-time series together, per Syracuse Athletics, the 'Cuse is 52-43 against the Red Storm, although St. John's has won four straight in the series.
This past season, SU went 15-17 overall, while the Red Storm sported a 30-7 mark. St. John's captured the Big East regular-season and conference tournament titles, reached the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA Tournament and was No. 10 in the final Associated Press and Coaches top-25 polls.
Rick Pitino, a former Syracuse basketball assistant under the legendary Jim Boeheim, is the Red Storm's head coach. Oh, and this offseason, Pitino and has staff hauled in former Orange sophomore power forward Donnie Freeman.
Freeman dealt with injuries during his two years on the Hill. I'm rooting for him to shine at St. John's. Freeman is rated as four stars, No. 16 overall and No. 6 at power forward in national transfer rankings from 247Sports.
It's a good thing for Syracuse basketball to play at the Garden. The Orange has a deep alumni and fan base in the New York metropolitan area, and this is a key recruiting market for the 'Cuse. It's a good thing for SU to play former Big East rivals.
Pitino is an icon in college basketball. McNamara, as a player, went on glorious runs at the Garden. I hope this match-up transpires. It would be appointment television for numerous reasons.
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