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NCAA Basketball: Top 6 rivalries that were ruined by realignment

By Tristan Freeman

Nov 15, 2018; New York, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Tyus Battle (25) drives to the basket against Connecticut Huskies guard Jalen Adams (4) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2018; New York, NY, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Tyus Battle (25) drives to the basket against Connecticut Huskies guard Jalen Adams (4) during the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Basketball Ryan Boatright Connecticut Huskies (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Ruined NCAA basketball rivalry No. 2 – Syracuse Orange vs UConn Huskies

  • Syracuse leads series, 56-39
  • Last meeting date: 2018 (UConn won, 83-76)
  • Biggest margin of victory: 40 points (Syracuse, 101-61)
  • Longest win streak: 7 (Syracuse from 1956-62)

These programs located in the Northeast Region started playing each other in 1956, with Syracuse scoring 102 points in an emphatic opening win. The Orange dominated this annual series at first, winning 19 of the first 23 matchups. But everything changed once they both went into the Big East Conference in 1980, which was the start of this being a true “rivalry”.

UConn won back-to-back matchups to restart the series but Syracuse still was getting the edge. That changed once Jim Calhoun got to the Huskies evening up the coaching matchup with Jim Boeheim on the other side. It became even between the programs both against each other and in the Big East, as the Orange and Huskies were making the NCAA Tournament on an annual basis.

The games were constantly close and tense, with several going into overtime. Of course, nothing could prepare anyone for the legendary six-overtime game in 2009 in the Big East Tournament that Syracuse eventually won, 127-117. Johnny Flynn had a game-high 34 points in 67 minutes for the Orange, while Paul Harris had 29 points and 22 rebounds. AJ Price had 33 points to lead the Huskies, with forward Stanley Robinson producing 28 points and 14 rebounds down low.

As with other games in this list, the Big East fracture a decade ago affected this rivalry, with Syracuse going to the ACC and UConn ending up playing in the AAC. These teams did play a few times afterward but since 2018, no games have been scheduled. After Coach Calhoun’s arrival, this was one of the most competitive rivalries of modern history and best coaching battles between a pair of Hall of Famers.

With UConn now back in the Big East, there’s hope these teams can play again once in a while but the Orange can’t fit all of their former league rivals into this condensed non-conference schedule; so hopefully, a Multi-Team Event or even the postseason can get these teams back together.

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