Syracuse Basketball: Projecting the Orange's non-conference record in 2024-25 season
By Neil Adler
The Syracuse basketball 2024-25 season is inching closer to reality.
The Orange's upcoming campaign is just around two months away. The 'Cuse will kick off 2024-25 by welcoming nearby Le Moyne to the JMA Wireless Dome in early November.
After sporting a 20-12 overall mark under first-year head coach Adrian Autry in the 2023-24 term, Syracuse basketball is looking to pile up a few more victories and get back to the NCAA Tournament following a three-year absence from the annual Big Dance.
For the upcoming season, the Orange's 11-game non-conference docket has been finalized. The 'Cuse, which went 9-2 during its non-conference slate a campaign ago, will have seven home games, three contests at neutral sites, and one true road encounter in 2024-25.
Syracuse basketball knows its Atlantic Coast Conference pairings during its 20-game league calendar, but dates and times for those conference match-ups have yet to be disclosed.
Let's forecast what record Syracuse basketball will have in its 2024-25 non-conference schedule.
•Syracuse basketball versus Le Moyne at the Dome on November 4.
Conference affiliation: Northeast Conference
2023-24 record: 15-17
Preseason top-25 ranking, ESPN: NA
Preseason top-25 ranking, CBS Sports: NA
Latest bracketology projection, ESPN: NA
Latest bracketology projection, CBS Sports: NA
My projected outcome for 'Cuse: Win
•Syracuse basketball versus Colgate at the Dome on November 12.
Conference affiliation: Patriot League
2023-24 record: 25-10
Preseason top-25 ranking, ESPN: NA
Preseason top-25 ranking, CBS Sports: NA
Latest bracketology projection, ESPN: No. 16 seed
Latest bracketology projection, CBS Sports: No. 13 seed
My projected outcome for 'Cuse: Win
•Syracuse basketball versus Youngstown State at the Dome on November 16.
Conference affiliation: Horizon League
2023-24 record: 22-10
Preseason top-25 ranking, ESPN: NA
Preseason top-25 ranking, CBS Sports: NA
Latest bracketology projection, ESPN: NA
Latest bracketology projection, CBS Sports: NA
My projected outcome for 'Cuse: Win
•Syracuse basketball will have two games in the 2024 Legends Classic at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on November 21 and November 22. Per SU Athletics, the Orange will first square off against Texas.
Conference affiliation: Southeastern Conference
2023-24 record: 21-13
Preseason top-25 ranking, ESPN: No. 22
Preseason top-25 ranking, CBS Sports: No. 20
Latest bracketology projection, ESPN: No. 4 seed
Latest bracketology projection, CBS Sports: No. 6 seed
My projected outcome for 'Cuse: Loss
The 'Cuse will also have a contest in the Legends Classic against either Texas Tech or Saint Joseph's.
Texas Tech
Conference affiliation: Big 12 Conference
2023-24 record: 23-11
Preseason top-25 ranking, ESPN: NA
Preseason top-25 ranking, CBS Sports: NA
Latest bracketology projection, ESPN: No. 4 seed
Latest bracketology projection, CBS Sports: No. 8 seed
Saint Joseph's
Conference affiliation: Atlantic 10 Conference
2023-24 record: 21-14
Preseason top-25 ranking, ESPN: NA
Preseason top-25 ranking, CBS Sports: NA
Latest bracketology projection, ESPN: NA
Latest bracketology projection, CBS Sports: NA
My projected outcome for 'Cuse: Win (against Saint Joseph's)
•Syracuse basketball versus Cornell at the Dome on November 27.
Conference affiliation: Ivy League
2023-24 record: 22-8
Preseason top-25 ranking, ESPN: NA
Preseason top-25 ranking, CBS Sports: NA
Latest bracketology projection, ESPN: NA
Latest bracketology projection, CBS Sports: NA
My projected outcome for 'Cuse: Win
•Syracuse basketball at Tennessee on December 3 in the 2024 SEC/ACC Challenge.
Conference affiliation: Southeastern Conference
2023-24 record: 27-9
Preseason top-25 ranking, ESPN: No. 13
Preseason top-25 ranking, CBS Sports: No. 14
Latest bracketology projection, ESPN: No. 4 seed
Latest bracketology projection, CBS Sports: No. 5 seed
My projected outcome for 'Cuse: Loss
•Syracuse basketball versus Albany at the Dome on December 10.
Conference affiliation: America East Conference
2023-24 record: 13-19
Preseason top-25 ranking, ESPN: NA
Preseason top-25 ranking, CBS Sports: NA
Latest bracketology projection, ESPN: NA
Latest bracketology projection, CBS Sports: NA
My projected outcome for 'Cuse: Win
•Syracuse basketball versus Georgetown at the Dome on December 14.
Conference affiliation: Big East Conference
2023-24 record: 9-23
Preseason top-25 ranking, ESPN: NA
Preseason top-25 ranking, CBS Sports: NA
Latest bracketology projection, ESPN: NA
Latest bracketology projection, CBS Sports: NA
My projected outcome for 'Cuse: Win
•Syracuse basketball versus Maryland, also at the Barclays Center, on December 21.
Conference affiliation: Big Ten Conference
2023-24 record: 16-17
Preseason top-25 ranking, ESPN: NA
Preseason top-25 ranking, CBS Sports: NA
Latest bracketology projection, ESPN: No. 11 seed
Latest bracketology projection, CBS Sports: NA
My projected outcome for 'Cuse: Win
•Syracuse basketball versus Bucknell at the Dome on December 28.
Conference affiliation: Patriot League
2023-24 record: 14-19
Preseason top-25 ranking, ESPN: NA
Preseason top-25 ranking, CBS Sports: NA
Latest bracketology projection, ESPN: NA
Latest bracketology projection, CBS Sports: NA
My projected outcome for 'Cuse: Win
Projected non-conference record for Syracuse basketball this coming season: 9-2
On paper, I believe that the Orange's battle with the Terrapins in late December in New York City is a toss-up and could go either way. The 'Cuse will also have its hands full with pesky Colgate in mid-November on the Hill. I also think that the Hoyas will be much improved in 2024-25.
The neutral-site affair with Texas and the road game against Tennessee will likely prove the toughest non-conference encounters for Syracuse basketball, at least on paper. If the Orange could notch a victory in one of those games, that would prove huge for the squad's post-season resume.