Both the men and women teams will renew a Big East rivalry this fall.
Both the Syracuse men's and women's basketball team will renew a rivalry with a former BIG EAST conference foe later this year.
Syracuse and UConn announced games involving each basketball program for the preseason schedule in 2026-27. We already knew that the men's game was happening on Oct. 13, but the women's game was new news on Wednesday. The women's game will happen on Oct. 12.
According to a press release the exhibition matchup between the schools will be a part of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Exhibition Event at the Mohegan Sun located in Uncasville, Conn. Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame president John L. Doleva said in a statement:
"When you think about what made this men's rivalry so special, you think about the Hall of Fame coaches who shaped it - Jim Calhoun and Jim Boeheim, both Class of 2005 - and the standard they set. Bringing these programs back together honors that legacy while writing the next chapter of one of college basketball's great rivalries."
History of the women's basketball series
The two programs started their series over 40 years ago, in the 1980-81 season. The Huskies own a 35-12 series lead with UConn winning the last 21 consecutive matchups. Syracuse last defeated UConn during the 1995-96 season.
The most famous game involving the teams was 2016 national championship when the Huskies won 81-52. Five times in the last 10 years, UConn has eliminated Syracuse the NCAA Tournament. The most recent win for the Huskies came in March when they defeated Syracuse 98-45. SU head coach Felisha Legette-Jack is tired of seeing the Huskies in March.
History of the men's basketball series
One of men's college basketball's longest rivalries, the Huskies and Orange first played against one another in the 1955-56 season.
Syracuse owns a 53-37 all time series lead. The Orange left the BIG EAST in 2013 for the ACC and since then the schools have only played on neutral floors. UConn won the most recent game in Nov. 2018 when they defeated the Orange 83-76.
Arguably, the most famous game between the two schools took place in March 2009 when Syracuse won 127-117 in a 6-overtime game during the BIG East tournament at Madison Square Garden. The 6-OT game concluded as the second longest in college basketball history, and the longest in BIG EAST history.
Other Syracuse basketball news
Although no Syracuse players were drafted in this month's NBA Draft, multiple Syracuse players have since signed professional contracts. The list includes William Kyle signing with the Los Angeles Lakers and Nate Kingz signing with the Miami Heat. Plus we have information on where three other former Orange players have inked pro deals this week.
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