Syracuse vs. Duke could be on shortlist for ESPN’s College GameDay in February

When the Syracuse Orange football schedule came out, we automatically started projecting out how SU’s game versus Clemson could host ESPN’s College Gameday. But doing so skipped another potential Gameday visit between now and then: the men’s basketball team’s matchup against the Duke Blue Devils on February 23 (also the date of our TNIAAM meet-up in Syracuse, by the way).

Syracuse.com’s Mike Waters addresses the question around whether SU vs. Duke could get the game by spelling out the timeline for notice — usually around two weeks — plus the other contending games that Saturday. Mike mentions Virginia vs. Louisville (ACCN), Auburn at Kentucky (CBS), Tennessee at LSU (TBD), Kansas at Texas Tech (ESPN/ESPN2).

GameDay doesn’t always pick an ESPN game, but having a later tip-off on one of their networks (as is the case for Syracuse/Duke or KU/Texas Tech) is a good start. However, the week before our game could also play a major factor in Syracuse getting picked (or not).

Duke’s game vs. NC State won’t get it, since GameDay’s already been to Durham this year. Though there’s a chance Kansas’s home game vs. West Virginia is selected, and if that’s the case, the KU/Tech game is out for the following week. Michigan and Maryland also face off that preceding Saturday, though it’s a noon ET game on Fox.

Plenty more basketball to play between now and when the site’s announced, though. So let’s just hope Syracuse keeps winning, making the decision that much tougher.

That, plus the rest of your Syracuse-related links below:

Will ESPN’s GameDay come to Syracuse-Duke game at Carrier Dome? (Syracuse.com)

If ESPN has decided to bring its popular GameDay show to the Carrier Dome for Syracuse’s game against Duke on Feb. 23, the network hasn’t let Syracuse officials in on their plans. I talked with SU director of media relations Pete Moore and he said that in recent years the notification window has gotten smaller and smaller.

Syracuse football pursuing South Alabama transfer OT Ryan Alexander (Syracuse.com)

The 6-foot-4, 308-pound Alexander has started 28 of the Jaguars last 29 games, serving as USA’s right tackle over the last two years after starting four games at left tackle in 2016. He was named all-Sun Belt Conference honorable mention after a redshirt junior season in which he posted a team-high 46 knockdown blocks and received an 84 percent assignment grade, according to the school’s athletic department.

ACC basketball success in January not a matter of who you play but when you play them (News & Observer)

“It’s when you catch guys, there’s no question about it. And through 18 league games, which is going to become 20,” Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said with a pained laugh, looking a year ahead, “there’s going to be a lot of ebb and flow.” That uneven prospect was perfectly illustrated during a four-day stretch mid-month, when team fortunes trembled like flags in a breeze and rebounding from adversity was among most everyone’s mid-season priorities.

Canes Hoops: Q&A with Nunesmagician.com (State of the U)

What kind of game are you expecting on Thursday? Let me start by saying that I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Miami play these last few years and while I know it’s been a tough year so far, Chris Lykes is one of my favorite players in the league. That said, I do think Syracuse is a much better team and expect the Orange to continue playing well in this one.

3-star Texas RB Garrison Johnson visiting Syracuse football this weekend (Syracuse.com)

Martin and Johnson shared one season at Manvel as the running back transferred into the school from Frenship High School in Wolfforth, Texas, following his sophomore year. Johnson was offered by the Orange in June after attending one of the program’s camps. He’s only taken one official visit thus far, to North Texas (Dec. 7), where he was previously committed to from late April to mid-December.

Aidan Tooker and Noah Affolder now lead Syracuse track and field by competing with each other (Daily Orange)

Q&A with Glens Falls’ Joseph Girard III (Daily Gazette)

Mikey Berkman ready to take the field at Syracuse (West Orange Times)

Syracuse women’s basketball tries to heat up shooting touch (Syracuse.com)

Guzal Yusupova’s 2,500-mile journey to Syracuse was two years in the making (Daily Orange)

Syracuse riding ‘hot hand’ with three goalies (Daily Orange)

Syracuse’s top doubles pair looks to replicate last season’s success (Daily Orange)

Ex-Syracuse football commit Nazir Burnett intends to sign with Georgia Tech (Syracuse.com)