The 2020-21 Syracuse Orange men’s basketball schedule picked up yet another game on Monday. According to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, the Orange will host the UMBC Retrievers as part of the non-conference slate later this year.
Source: Syracuse will host UMBC as part of its 20-21 non-conference schedule.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 11, 2020
SU last played UMBC in 1992-93, a close 93-86 victory for the Orange at the Dome behind 22 points from Lawrence Moten. UMBC went 16-17 last season (8-8 in America East), but you’re certainly familiar with their work. The Retrievers were the first 16-seed to beat a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament, taking out Virginia back in 2018.
That upset makes them a friend, but we’ll have to put that aside for one evening/afternoon later in 2020.
Adding UMBC gives Syracuse four non-conference opponents so far in 2020-21. Along with the aforementioned Mercer, the Orange are also slated to play the Georgetown Hoyas at home, and the LSU Tigers in the Gotham Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York. Mercer’s part of said Gotham Classic field, as are Jacksonville State and Green Bay, so we’ll likely see games announced against those two soon. SU also has the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, which will add a major conference foe as well. Add in likely dates vs. Colgate and Cornell and most of the non-conference slate is already accounted for.
Personally don’t mind mixing it up in non-conference play a bit, though also fine to play a lot of the New York schools we have in the past. UMBC’s an interesting addition, at least. It may even have Hoos fans rooting for us for a night.