The Orange will harken back to the old Big East days in this matchup, and it will have a bit of intrigue on the coaching front as well.
According to CBS Sports College Basketball Insider Jon Rothstein, the Syracuse men's basketball team will take on Providence in 2026-27. It will be a non-league game played at TD Garden in Boston.
There is no game date or time yet, but we can presume it will take place before the conference seasons, which means it will likely happen between early November and just before the Christmas holiday.
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) season began on Dec. 31 for Syracuse this past campaign. The Big East schedule started about two weeks before that.
This matchup will be a harkening back to the days of the old Big East, before expansion and re-alignment changed the college sports landscape.
In total, Syracuse has played Providence 58 times, going 48-10 against the Friars. The two teams haven't met since Feb. 20, 2013, a game that SU won 84-59.
Of note
Syracuse famously doesn't leave New York much during the non-conference season. In fact, SU played only three non-league games that weren't at home this past season, and they were all in the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas.
Coaching intrigue
In addition to Syracuse leaving New York, this game is going to have some coaching intrigue as well.
Bryan Hodgson, a Southwestern New York native, reportedly turned down a job offer from Syracuse to replace Adrian Autry. In turn, he accepted the job at Providence.
Not everyone believes that Hodgson actually had an offer from Syracuse, but regardless, he was certainly a candidate that a lot of fans were interested in.
If new head coach Gerry McNamara can beat him, that will go a long way to help ease doubts that SU got the wrong head coach. If McNamara loses, the disappointment in losing out on Hodgson will grow, at least in some circles.
Providence Friars guard Vincent Council (32) drives past Syracuse Orange guard Michael Carter-Williams (1) during the second half of a game at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won 84-59. Mark Konezny-Imagn ImagesAlso on campus
--The McNamara hire isn't even official yet, but it's expected to be announced on Monday or Tuesday. A four-year standout and a national champion (2003), McNamara is one of the most decorated players in program history.
--The No. 9 Syracuse women's basketball team will take on No. 1 UConn on Monday night (6 p.m. ET) in the Round of 32. Syracuse toppled No. 8 Iowa State in the Round of 64 behind big games from Uche Izoje, Lalia Phelia and reserve guard Olivia Schmitt.
UConn is a perfect 35-0 and has won 51 consecutive games. They are the heavy favorite for the national title.
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