Most interesting: We don’t see the men’s matchup you probably assumed would occur.
Apparently everyone decided it was Syracuse Orange non-conference basketball schedule day.
After learning dates for Orange men’s basketball’s games vs. Georgetown (Dec. 11) and Villanova (Dec. 7) earlier on Wednesday, it appears we know both the men’s and women’s first round opponents in this November’s Battle 4 Atlantis.
Contrary to what everyone assumed, the Syracuse men’s team will start the event against the VCU Rams, rather than the Connecticut Huskies. SU’s 3-0 all-time vs. the Rams, but the teams haven’t played one another since 1992 — a 94-81 home win for the Orange. The full list of men’s first round matchups, which take place on November 24:
- Syracuse vs. VCU
- UConn vs. Auburn
- Michigan State vs. Loyola-Chicago
- Baylor vs. Arizona State
Of course, Syracuse and UConn can still face one another in this event. It just becomes less likely, obviously, when it’s not guaranteed.
As many may know, the Syracuse women’s team is also in the Bahamas this year for the inaugural women’s event. According to Wednesday’s announcement, they’ll play the USF Bulls in round one. Along with USF and Syracuse, the other teams in the field include Buffalo, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Oregon and Minnesota, so at least a few teams we’re familiar with there.
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What do you think? Happy to avoid UConn early, or would you rather just face them right off the bat and then figure it out from there?
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