Syracuse Basketball: NIT forecast has Big East flavor, possible Mike Hopkins battle

Syracuse basketball is looking good for an invitation to the upcoming NIT, and based on some projections on Friday, there could prove some intriguing potential match-ups for the Orange in this event.

An article this week on thebarkingcrow.com noted that the 'Cuse had a 100 percent probability to hear its name called this Sunday night for the 2024 NIT, which will include 32 teams.

On Friday, here is where Syracuse basketball was forecast in the NIT, according to thebarkingcrow.com: the Orange was projected to be in the "Seton Hall Region."

Initial games in this region would pit No. 1 seed Seton Hall against Syracuse basketball, No. 4 seed Ole Miss versus Washington, No. 3 seed Virginia Tech versus Richmond, and No. 2 seed Villanova versus SMU.

Well, well. This forecast has the Orange playing a former long-time Big East Conference foe. You've got another Big East squad in Villanova, an Atlantic Coast Conference member in Virginia Tech, a future ACC school in SMU, those not-super-liked Richmond Spiders and Washington.

A week ago, Washington announced that head coach Mike Hopkins, a former Syracuse basketball player and long-time assistant coach on the Hill, would not return next season for the Huskies, a group that is leaving the Pac-12 Conference for the Big Ten Conference.

However, I have read media reports that Hopkins is expected to coach Washington in any post-season events, so I'd love to see Coach Hop and Orange first-year head coach Adrian Autry go toe to toe assuming both the Huskies and the 'Cuse prevail in their initial NIT affairs.

Syracuse basketball should get an invite to this term's NIT.

The Orange had hoped to make a deep run in this week's ACC Tournament from Washington, D.C., but the No. 7 seed 'Cuse fell by 18 points in the second round to the No. 10 seed N.C. State this past Wednesday evening.

Still, Syracuse basketball (20-12, 11-9 in the ACC) has put forth a solid 2023-24 season, and I'm glad to see that the Orange is being strongly considered for the NIT. To that end, Autry said after the loss to the Wolfpack that any time you have an opportunity to pay in the post-season, “I think you have to take it.”

In a separate NIT projection on Friday via nitbracketology.com, the 'Cuse is in a region where No. 1 seed Indiana State plays Loyola Chicago, No. 4 seed Butler plays Indiana, No. 3 seed Utah plays UNLV, and No. 2 seed Kansas State plays Syracuse basketball.

This region has a ton of Mid-west flavor to it. I feel bad if Indiana State ultimately doesn't make the NCAA Tournament, as the Sycamores have been fabulous in 2023-24. Loyola Chicago was the darling of the 2018 Big Dance, advancing to the Final Four as a No. 11 seed.

Butler and Indiana are two squads that, frankly, 'Cuse hoops fans don't like (2010 and 1987 - yuck).

This Sunday, March 17, beginning at 9:30 pm and airing on ESPN2, selections for the 2024 NIT will be unveiled.