While we already knew it was likely to happen, it was confirmed on Friday morning that the Syracuse men's basketball team will travel to Albany this fall for an exhibition matchup with Siena before the start of the regular season.

That game will happen on Oct. 18 and will be played at MVP Arena, where new Syracuse head coach Gerry McNamara previously coached Siena for two seasons.  The game will be played at 2 p.m. ET, which is unfortunate timing considering that's a football Sunday.

As we learned back in May, this game is going to serve multiple purposes:

1) It will be a high-level opponent for Siena to play as they look to build upon last year's conference championship and trip to the NCAA Tournament.

2) Siena will raise the MAAC championship banner on this day, because it will give them a chance to celebrate McNamara and the players who have transferred to Syracuse with him: Gavin Doty, Francis Folefac and Tasman Goodrick.

Well, it's a chance for Syracuse to get out on the road again, testing themselves in various road environments. It also will give them an opportunity to handle dealing with emotion, as McNamara and each of the former Siena players will be forced to confront things other than the game itself.

To the point above: This will be an emotional contest for the Orange and everyone associated. As McNamara looks to bring this program back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021, each day they are on the floor is vital, and this game could ultimately be a distraction.

You have to wonder if McNamara and everyone involved would just prefer to stay focused rather than relive the past through all the build up.

On Thursday afternoon, we learned that former SU sharp shooter Cole Swider will represent Team USA in the next round of FIBA World Cup qualifying.

The Americans, who are coached by former NBA head coach Terry Stotts, will play at Chile on Aug. 27 and home vs. Colombia on Aug. 31.

While the qualification process is complex, 80 national teams are working to become one of the 32 teams to play in the FIBA World Cup in 2027.

Team USA is certainly a heavy favorite to advance to - and win - the World Cup.

Swider spent one year at Syracuse and just represented 'Boeheim's Army' at the most recent 'TBT.'