Syracuse men's basketball will battle former longtime Big East Conference rival St. John's at the world's most famous arena this November.
The Orange and the Red Storm will play a non-conference game in the 2026-27 season on Sunday, Nov. 15, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, a source confirmed to Inside the Loud House on Thursday afternoon. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports first reported the date of this contest earlier on Thursday via his X page.
Previous reports had indicated that the 'Cuse and St. John's were working on an agreement to square off at MSG in 2026-27, the first season for the Orange with alum Gerry McNamara serving as the program's head coach.
The two former Big East adversaries haven't played since the 2022-23 campaign. In November of 2022, the Red Storm defeated the Orange, 76-69 in overtime, at the Empire Classic inside the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
In their all-time series together, the 'Cuse is 52-43 against St. John's, although the Red Storm has won four straight. St. John's is led by former Syracuse basketball assistant Rick Pitino, who, in the 2025-26 season, guided the Red Storm to a 30-7 overall record, a share of the Big East regular-season title, the Big East Tournament crown and a journey to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.
Syracuse basketball has an intriguing non-conference schedule in the upcoming campaign.
Besides Pitino, there are numerous other SU-related connections to the Red Storm's 2026-27 roster. Former Orange power forward Donnie Freeman transferred to St. John's this offseason, although he will miss the entire 2026-27 campaign due to an injury.
Former 'Cuse guard Kyle Cuffe Jr. is on the Red Storm's 2026-27 roster, as are former Syracuse basketball recruiting targets Ian Jackson, a guard, and Theo Edema, a center.
Syracuse basketball will play 14 non-conference games in 2026-27. The dates for 13 of these contests are known. Here's the full docket:
•Syracuse basketball against New Haven at the Dome on Monday, Nov. 2
•Syracuse basketball against Central Connecticut State at the Dome on Thursday, Nov. 5.
•Syracuse basketball against Indiana at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Monday, Nov. 9
•Syracuse basketball against St. John's at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday, Nov. 15
•Syracuse basketball against Cornell at the Dome on Wednesday, Nov. 18
•Syracuse basketball against Lafayette at the Dome on Saturday, Nov. 21
•Syracuse basketball at Oklahoma on Tuesday, Dec. 1 (annual ACC/SEC Challenge)
•Syracuse basketball against Colgate at the Dome on Tuesday, Dec. 8
•Syracuse basketball against Mercyhurst at the Dome on Saturday, Dec. 12
•Syracuse basketball against Canisius at the Dome on Wednesday, Dec. 16
•Syracuse basketball against Providence at the TD Garden in Boston on Saturday, Dec. 19
•Syracuse basketball against Binghamton at the Dome on Tuesday, Dec. 22
•Syracuse basketball against Rutgers at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Saturday, Feb. 6
•Syracuse basketball against Albany at the Dome (date TBD)
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