Syracuse Basketball: Key takeaways on the Orange's ACC schedule in the 2024-25 season

The Atlantic Coast Conference has released the 20-game league schedule for all of its members, including Syracuse basketball, during the upcoming 2024-25 season.

With the additions of California, Stanford and SMU, the ACC has grown to 18 members in hoops. Preseason prognostications from national pundits view perennial powers Duke and North Carolina as the teams to beat in the conference, although plenty of other ACC schools, including the Orange, have their eyes on a strong placement within the league's eventual pecking order.

I'm an acknowledged homer, but I think that the 'Cuse will surprise national and ACC observers in the upcoming term. According to experts, some other conference schools to monitor include Virginia, Clemson, Wake Forest, Miami and N.C. State, which this past spring went on a magical run to the Final Four as a double-digit seed.

On paper, the Orange's ACC calendar doesn't look overly daunting, but this is pure speculation for the time being. One thing is for sure: I can't wait for the 'Cuse 2024-25 season to get going.

My top takeaways on the Syracuse basketball ACC schedule for the upcoming season.

•The Orange has home-and-home series with annual rivals Boston College and Pittsburgh, along with Notre Dame. The ACC opener for Syracuse basketball comes in early December at the Fighting Irish.

•The 'Cuse only battles Duke and North Carolina once each, and both games are on the Hill. Syracuse basketball will host the Tar Heels during a prime-time ESPN broadcast in mid-February.

•The Orange will head out west to play all three new ACC members on the road. Syracuse basketball gets Stanford and Cal in back-to-back encounters in late January/early February. Then, in early March, the 'Cuse travels to SMU.

•Syracuse basketball will have back-to-back home games on two occasions. Conversely, the Orange will also hit the road for consecutive contests twice.

•The 'Cuse is scheduled to have eight games on ESPN networks, eight affairs on the ACC Network, and four contests on The CW.

•Syracuse basketball will have five games at the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturdays, which is great for (hopefully) getting large crowds.

•The Orange's regular-season finale should prove a fun one. Syracuse basketball will welcome Virginia to the Hill in a prime-time affair on the ACC Network.

Here is the complete 20-game ACC schedule for Syracuse basketball:

Saturday, Dec. 7, at Notre Dame, 12 pm, The CW

Tuesday, Dec 31, versus Wake Forest, 2 pm, ESPN2

Saturday, Jan. 4, at Florida State, 6 pm, ACC Network

Tuesday, Jan. 7, versus Georgia Tech, 7 pm, ACC Network

Saturday, Jan. 11, at Boston College, 3 pm, The CW

Tuesday, Jan. 14, versus Louisville, 7 pm, ACC Network

Saturday, Jan. 18, versus Notre Dame, 4 pm, ACC Network

Wednesday, Jan. 22, at Clemson, 7 pm, ACC Network

Saturday, Jan. 25, versus Pittsburgh, 12 pm, ESPN2/ESPNU

Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Stanford, time is TBD, ESPN2/ESPNU

Saturday, Feb. 1, at California, 10 pm, ESPN2

Wednesday, Feb. 5, versus Duke, 7 pm, ESPN2

Saturday, Feb. 8, versus Boston College, 3:15 pm, The CW

Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Miami, 7 pm, ACC Network

Saturday, Feb. 15, versus North Carolina, 6 pm, ESPN

Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Pittsburgh, 7 pm, ACC Network

Wednesday, Feb. 26, versus N.C. State, 7 pm, ESPN2/ESPNU

Saturday, March 1, at Virginia Tech, 12 pm, The CW

Tuesday, March 4, at SMU, 9 pm, ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU

Saturday, March 8, versus Virginia, 8 pm, ACC Network