HoopHall Miami Invitational details released for Syracuse vs. Kansas & more

We already knew that the Syracuse Orange would play the Kansas Jayhawks as part of the HoopHall Miami Invitational this coming December. But today, we got far more details about the event, and the other programs involved.

The HoopHall invitational will involve a number of teams, culminating in the December 2 doubleheader at Miami’s AmericanAirlines Arena. Times are still TBD, but Syracuse vs. Kansas is one of the games, while the Miami Hurricanes will play the Princeton Tigers in the other. All three of the other showcase teams made the NCAA Tournament this season.

Before the main event, Syracuse will also host Oakland, Texas Southern and Toledo at the Carrier Dome.

SU’s 2-0 vs. Oakland, having beat them in back-to-back matchups in 2008 and 2009. They’re also 2-0 against both Texas Southern and Toledo, respectively. The Orange defeated the Tigers in 1997 and 2015 at the Dome, while the victories over the Rockets came in 1951 and 1990. Toledo has never played in Syracuse, as both previous matchups were neutral-site games.

All of those contests are well and good, but the big draw is obviously Kansas. The Orange are 3-2 all-time against the Jayhawks, winning two straight in the series. SU won an overtime game over KU in Kansas City back in 2008. The 2003 game was a little more meaningful: the 81-78 victory that gave SU its lone NCAA National Championship.

These games now give Syracuse six confirmed non-conference opponents for 2017-18 — these four, plus the Georgetown series and UConn game. St. John’s seems to be up in the air. Additionally, you can bet on the sort-of-annual matchups with the like of Cornell and Colgate.