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Syracuse will visit Ohio State in ACC/Big Ten Challenge, per report

Finally, some revenge for 2012’s debacle

By John Cassillo
NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-Second Round-Ohio State vs Gonzaga Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

(UPDATE: The ACC has confirmed the matchups, and Syracuse-OSU will take place on November 28)

It looks like we know who the Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team will face in the 2018 edition of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

According to a report by CBS/Fan Rag’s Jon Rothstein, SU will visit the Ohio State Buckeyes on a date yet to be determined (but on or around November 27).

Syracuse and Ohio State last faced off in 2012, an Elite Eight game you’ll remember quite well for wanting to forget it. Without Fab Melo, the Orange fell 77-70 in a hideous matchup that saw 67 foul shots -- including 42 for OSU. SU was able to keep it tied at 29 at halftime, but the Buckeyes were carried by Jared Sullinger (and some questionable officiating) enough in the second to create the advantage. It was the second straight defeat to Ohio State in the all-time series, following up on a 14-point loss at Madison Square Garden in 2007. SU trails 2-5 in seven matchups since 1911. The Orange’s only wins came in 2000 and 1982.

This is Syracuse’s sixth consecutive season playing in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, and they’re 2-3 so far. Since beating Indiana the first time around in 2013, the Orange lost three straight (once to Michigan and twice to Wisconsin). They broke the streak last year by beating Maryland, 72-70 at the Carrier Dome. The 2018 game also marks the third road game for Syracuse in the challenge (they’re 0-2 in the other attempts).

Adding Ohio State, a top-20 team according to KenPom last year, means Syracuse gets yet another opportunity to earn a quality non-conference win in 2018-19. Plus, Aaron Craft’s not on the roster anymore, so that’s a plus.

Here’s what the schedule looks like so far, with four unknowns (one of which is almost definitely Colgate):

Nice to see a road game on there, for RPI purposes. Who else do you want to see fill out the rest of this slate?

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