While it’s still early, we have pretty firm reports that Syracuse will play 5 P5 opponents in the OOC schedule in 26-27. Those games are:
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Vs Indiana in Indianapolis
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Vs Rutgers at Barclays Center
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SEC team (assumed to be a road game since the Orange hosted last season)
We also can pencil in home games against Albany, Colgate and Cornell, but with the rest of the home slate a mystery, we put out the roundtable call to get some thoughts from the staff.
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What are your thoughts about this schedule so far?
Kevin: Feels like a program that assumes SOS will get them on the right side of the bubble, but ultimately gets more revenue above everything else. Last year we talked about gaming the NET and that backfired when the Orange got Iowa State in Vegas and then lost to Hofstra. I’m getting the sense that the post-season hopes will hinge on getting 11-12 wins in ACC play.
Sam: I like it. Games against high-major programs, games with local intrigue, games in big cities. Even if they don’t win these games, as long as they play tough, it’s a good showing for a first-year coach on a big stage. I don’t think you should be scheduling with the goal of faking a good record on a mediocre team in your first season. You should play whoever you can in big spots so you can see where you’re at. That’s what Syracuse is doing.
Dom: It’s a schedule that certainly looks *quite different with the Orange not being in the Players Era Tournament this year. A lot of the out-of-conference slate is certainly financially motivated, for better or worse. I do like the diversity of matchups overall, and while non of then will be at home, at least there are three Northeast games fans can, in theory, make the trip for. Same sentiment as Kevin. The home slate will likely not pack a punch at all, but dropping any of those games would immediately put a major dent in any March Madness prospects.
Do you think Syracuse will play a potential NCAA Tournament team at home in the OOC portion of the schedule?
Kevin: Do you think Cornell will win the Ivy? Seriously though I think this schedule is setting up to give us Cornell and Colgate back and then a whole heaping bunch of Q4 opponents from the Northeast. Syracuse is going to hope nostalgia sells tickets because it’s not going to be compelling opponents bringing people to JMA next November and December.
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Sam: Probably not. At least not an at-large caliber team. Maybe they face a team that ends up making it. But I also think that they should be invested in playing these games against local opponents like Colgate and Cornell — which I’m hearing is likely. Would love to see Le Moyne back on the schedule as well.
Dom: Not at all, outside an automatic qualifier. It’s likely going to be a cold, boring winter for the OOC home schedule.
Of the four announced opponents, what’s your way-too-early record prediction?
Kevin: I’d say Rutgers is the only game Syracuse will be favored to win. It’s hard to tell how the revamped Indiana and Providence rosters will be, but the Hoosiers game is basically a road game. I’ll say 2-2 right now and that’s being optimistic.
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Sam: I think 1-3 is the expectation with the win coming over Rutgers. Providence and Indiana will be winnable games, but I say they end up on the losing end.
Dom: I’ll go bold and firmly say 2-2. Indiana will be better given its portal additions (especially with its bigs, a potential concern for Syracuse). It also holds the most home-court advantage for a neutral-site game on paper. Syracuse gets wins over Providence and Rutgers, but drops Indiana and St. John’s.
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What are your thoughts about the Orange’s OOC schedule so far?
