Syracuse Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for the Orange

OMAHA, NE - MARCH 23: Head coach Jim Boeheim of the Syracuse Orange speaks to his team during a timeout against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 23, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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Photo Credit: Brett Carlsen – Getty Images /

Nonconference Schedule

Nov. 13 (H) — Colgate

Nov. 16 (H) — Seattle

Nov. 20 (H) — Cornell

Nov. 23 (H) — Bucknell

Nov. 27-29 (N) — NIT Season Tipoff (Oklahoma State, Mississippi/Penn State)

Dec. 3 (H) — Iowa (Big Ten/ACC Challenge)

Dec. 14 (A) — Georgetown

Dec. 18 (H) — Oakland

Dec. 21 (H) — North Florida

Dec. 28 (H) — Niagara

Syracuse’s nonconference schedule begins after its season-opening conference matchup with the defending champions, Virginia. It’s the Orange’s first real test before a four-game stretch against lesser opponents including another Battle of the Boeheims on Nov. 20 against Cornell.

Those home games will be followed by the NIT Season Tipoff in the Barclays Center against Oklahoma State and then either Ole Miss or Penn State. This tournament will be crucial for SU to pick up some much-needed Power 5 wins to help bolster its NCAA Tournament resume, as Oklahoma State, Penn State and Ole Miss all rank within the top 60 of Kenpom.com’s 2020 rankings (40th, 43rd and 60th, respectively).

The Orange will return home with another Power 5 matchup against Iowa in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge before traveling to longtime rivals Georgetown. SU returns home for three straight home games against weak opponents, a little boost before entering the bulk of ACC play.
All of these games are winnable for Syracuse, which has to prove its NCAA Tournament worthiness against middle-of-the-pack Power 5 opponents. The home game against Iowa seems like the best opportunity to take advantage, as well as the neutral site NIT Season Tipoff — though splitting there wouldn’t be the end of the world.

As always, Syracuse will also need to win its easier games and enter ACC play with some momentum. The gauntlet of the ACC will give the Orange troubles, so picking up early nonconference wins — something they’ve struggled with in year’s past — is a necessity.

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