Syracuse to open 2019-20 men’s basketball season against ACC opponent Virginia
Alexandra Moreo | Senior Staff Photographer
Buddy Boeheim drives left on Virginia guard Kyle Guy.
Syracuse will open its 2019-20 men’s basketball season against Virginia on Nov. 6, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced Friday. It’ll be televised on the ACC Network as part of the expanded 20-game conference slate of games each team will play. Over the course of the first two days of the college basketball season, there will be seven total ACC matchups.
“Next year begins our move to a 20-game conference schedule, and to be able to open the season with a round of conference games makes it truly unique,” ACC Commissioner John Swofford said in a release. “We believe it will be a great way to tipoff another outstanding season of ACC basketball for our coaches, student-athletes and fans.
Since Syracuse joined the ACC in 2013, the men’s basketball schedule has featured 18 conference games. But that’s been expanded for next season, and the conference chose to play a portion of the schedule early in the season. The Orange haven’t played any ACC teams before the last few days of December since joining the conference.
The Big Ten has tested a similar concept in recent years, playing two conference games interspersed with nonconference games prior to the calendar change.
Here’s the full breakdown of how #ACC #ACCMBB teams will open their 2019-20 seasons. pic.twitter.com/jLXjkqHXD0
— Billy Heyen (@Wheyen3) March 15, 2019
Virginia is anticipated to be a No. 1 seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament, according to ESPN, and it beat the Orange by 26 earlier this season. The only scholarship senior the Cavaliers have is Jack Salt, and this year’s ACC defensive player of the year De’Andre Hunter is a projected lottery pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Even with the departures, UVA should open next season as a top-10 team in the country. SU holds a 5-7 all-time record against Virginia.
Earlier this season, SU head coach Jim Boeheim was asked about whether the expanded conference slate could affect scheduling against traditional rivals like Georgetown and Connecticut.
“You’re going to get something,” Boeheim said on Dec. 8 of adding two conference games, “but you’re going to lose something, too.”
UVA as a season-opener will be a far cry from the Big Sky’s Eastern Washington, which Syracuse beat 66-34 on Nov. 6 this season to open the campaign.
Published on March 15, 2019 at 3:37 pm
Contact Billy: wmheyen@syr.edu | @Wheyen3
