I don’t understand how this could happen. It’s not a PBJ unless you have peanut butter AND jelly. It’s not a work day, unless I have my cold Mountain Dew caffeine rush. And it’s not Syracuse basketball without Georgetown on the schedule.
Sources: Georgetown and Syracuse are not expected to play during the 2025-26 college basketball season.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 28, 2025
The history of both programs can’t be told without the other team being involved. The history of the Big East doesn’t matter nearly as much without both teams and their rivalry. The history of ESPN in the early days has to involve a chapter on the rivalry of Syracuse and Georgetown. The history of college sports is filled with rivals like Duke/UNC, Michigan/Ohio State, USC/UCLA and Syracuse/Georgetown.
Rivalries make sports more exciting. Michigan and Ohio State football have recently won national championships, but both sides seem to remember their head-to-head games just as strongly as they do those championships. And most Syracuse fans old enough to vote can tell you an impactful memory they have involving Georgetown.
My thoughts on Syracuse basketball not playing the Hoyas this season.
Pearl vs. Ewing. Graham vs Hawkins. Syracuse advancing to the Final Four in 2013 on Georgetown’s home court. John Thompson pulling his team off the court. Jim Boeheim’s spirited press conferences after their games. "Manley Fieldhouse is officially closed!" My personal anger at any loss to Georgetown and childhood memories of despising anything Hoya-related.
Syracuse is no longer playing Georgetown twice a year in the same conference. I understand to some that belittles the rivalry, but to me, any time Syracuse has to set a schedule, the first call should always be Georgetown for the good of the rivalry and the good of the game.
Think I’m exaggerating? Ask a former player about how passionate they are about those matchups. Ask Gerry McNamara if it’s okay to lose to Georgetown. Ask CJ Fair or Arinze Onuaku about playing Georgetown. This rivalry still matters, and it’s only dulled when administrators fail to see the impact these games can still have and don’t go out of their way to preserve it.
Look, I get that the current landscape of college sports is in a state of constant fluctuation. But one thing remains certain, and that is that rivalries bring eyes and interest to sports. And the best way to enhance rivalries is to continue them and make them happen as often as possible.
By not scheduling a Syracuse/Georgetown game this season, you’re essentially telling your fan base that the history and rivalry don't matter as much as they thought. And if you keep showing the fans that certain things shouldn’t matter as much, you shouldn’t blame them when their interest doesn’t align with yours as much.
Syracuse not playing Georgetown in basketball any year is an injustice and takes away from the value of the rivalry and, to some, even the value of the season in general. Many Syracuse fans have lived their whole life and fandom living for these games and more purpose.
And in an era where the two teams struggle to find the NCAA tournament, shouldn’t you at least offer the fans this opportunity to cheer on their team in a passionate manner against a rival? What’s next, Syracuse lacrosse no longer playing Johns Hopkins? At what point do we put aside the money or other factors and remember that rivalries like Syracuse versus Georgetown are what built the fanbase that put butts in the seats and orange shirts on our backs.
This rivalry still matters, but it can only matter as long as those in charge allow it to exist and by scheduling it every chance you get. When it comes to Syracuse basketball, losses matter, but other than losing out on the tournament, the worst loss will always be to the Hoyas.