Syracuse men’s basketball generated over $31 million in revenue in 2017-18

The Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team has long been an important part of how the entire athletic department makes money, and that’s even more clear since the school arrived in the ACC.

Syracuse.com’s Chris Carlson shared data today around how much revenue was generated by college basketball programs in 2017-18, and to little surprise, the Orange were pretty high up on the list: third overall, taking home $31,772,639 on the back of a surprise Sweet 16 run and the extra credit from playing in the First Four too. That was a record amount for the school, surpassing the previous high form 2013-14. SU also spent a record $14.7 million on the sport in 2017-18 — making the total take-home an impressive $17.07 million good for second-best in the country.

All of that’s pretty great for a school with a smaller alumni base and smaller city in the immediate area. Per the data Carlson published for the piece, SU was one of just four schools with $30 million or more in men’s basketball revenues (the others were Louisville, Duke and Kentucky). Of the top 55 schools by way of revenue, 10 were ACC schools. SU was also one of just two private schools in the top 10, along with Duke.

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

Syracuse ranks third in the country in revenue generated by men’s college basketball (Syracuse.com)

Using BusinessInsider.com’s formula, a scholarship player at Syracuse would have been worth an average of $1.2 million in 2017-18. The average ACC player would have been valued at more than $641,305.

Syracuse football player has own sneaker business thanks to little-known NCAA provision (Syracuse.com)

Queeley is able to get legislative relief because he isn’t using his status as an athlete to promote his business, and his product isn’t tied to his identity as a football player. If he was selling cleats, he’d be in violation. If he was selling workout clothes, similar to those he’d might wear while training, he’d be in violation. “These are high-end sneakers,” said Justin DiTolla, who works in Syracuse’s compliance office.

College football’s 2019 Final Four darkhorses (Bleacher Report)

It’s not out of the realm of possibility the Orange could be even better this year, too. Babers seems to play coach Dabo Swinney’s Tigers as tough as anybody, so expect him to have a good game plan in that one, and it’ll be at the Carrier Dome. The Orange return eight starters from a stacked defense, and though just five returning offensive starters come back, the team could be more dynamic on that side of the ball.

Did Darius Bazley and Klutch Sports make the right call? (USA Today/LeBronWire)

Following a full year of college basketball, and all the attention that surrounds March Madness, Bazley–the 6-9 forward from Cincinnati, Ohio–seems to have fallen off the radar to a large extent. According to HoopsHype’s Aggregate Mock Draft, Darius is now considered the 44th best player available, or a mid-second rounder. Not exactly where he anticipated being selected when he decided to forgo both college and the G-League this season to train and work for New Balance.

These Are the Best College Basketball Players Transferring This Offseason (Stadium)

Anthony Duruji, Louisiana Tech (6-7, 215, F, Soph.) Stats: 12.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg; Quick Scout: “Freak athlete. Strong, competitive, really good shooter with feet set. 6-foot-7, high upside. No brainer high-major.” Schools: Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Seton Hall, Baylor, Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona State, VCU, USC, George Mason, Marquette, Ole Miss, Nevada, Indiana

Tiana Mangakahia named AP All-America honorable mention (Cuse.com)

Former Syracuse player Tyler Roberson has signed with Fos Provence Basketball (Syracuse.com)

How two years in France molded Miranda Ramirez (Daily Orange)

Willie Taggart seeing growth in trust, chemistry early in second year at FSU (Tallahassee Democrat)

The Zion Williamson era peaked, unfortunately, on the first day of the season (CollegeBasketballTalk)

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