NCAA Tournament: Syracuse vs. San Diego State tip-off set for Friday at 9:40 p.m. ET on CBS

We found out on Sunday that the Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team would be facing the San Diego State Aztecs in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. And now we know the when and where of it all.

Apologies in advance to all of you East Coasters. Syracuse is headed to Hinkle Fieldhouse (home of 2010’s villain, Butler) for a 9:40 p.m. ET tip-off on Friday night, airing on CBS. Of course, you don’t have Friday night plans anyway. But you’re unlikely to be getting much sleep with a game starting that late — and potentially later depending on delays beforehand.

This is far from the first late tip for the Orange in the NCAA Tournament. Back in 2019, their game against Baylor didn’t start ‘til about 10 p.m. ET (on Thursday, though). Here, it was likely influenced in part by SDSU’s location in California. But the powers that be did really seem to want to pack the schedule for Friday night to keep viewers engaged. Syracuse, West Virginia and Villanova all tip after 9:30.

As we work toward the game, there’s plenty more to talk about. But feel free to gameplan your alcohol consumption strategies (and when you’re watching The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to avoid spoilers).