An old Big East rivalry could be renewed this year.
Reported by Jon Rothstein, St. John’s and Syracuse are completing an agreement to face off at Madison Square Garden in non-conference play this upcoming season, and the official date is to be determined.
The Red Storm’s matchup with the Orange would be the third power-conference opponent on the non-conference schedule next season. They are reportedly slated to host Arizona at the Mecca on December 5, then travel to Birmingham to face Alabama on December 12. St. John’s will also return to the Players’ Era Festival in Las Vegas, taking part in a new 16-team bracket that also includes Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas State, Louisville, Maryland, Miami (FL), Michigan, Oregon, San Diego State, Tennessee, TCU, and Texas Tech.
Although St. John’s trails Syracuse in the all-time series by a record of 51-41, the Johnnies have won four of the five matchups since their in-state rival departed the original Big East in 2013. The Red Storm last met the Orange in the Legends Classic championship game in 2022, defeating them in a 76-69 overtime thriller at the Barclays Center, in what was the final season in coaching for Mike Anderson and Jim Boeheim. The ever-mercurial Andre Curbelo had his best performance in a Johnnies uniform, recording a then-career-high 23 points.
Their last matchup at the World’s Most Famous Arena came in Chris Mullin’s first season leading his alma mater on December 13, 2015, when Federico Mussini, Amar Alibegović, and Durand Johnson combined for eleven triples to push the Red Storm to an 84-72 upset victory over the Orange.
While the main storyline in this matchup will obviously be rising Syracuse sophomore Kiyan Anthony playing in the same arena that his father and Hall of Famer Carmelo called home when he was with the Knicks, plenty of attention will also be focused on new St. John’s forward Donnie Freeman, who would be taking on his former school for the first time since departing the program this offseason. The former McDonald’s All-American averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds in two seasons with the Orange.
Syracuse will be led by program icon and first-year head coach Gerry McNamara, who just led Siena to the NCAA Tournament, and is hoping to bring the Orange back to national relevance. Joining McNamara from his time with the Saints are Gavin Doty (18.0 points per game and 6.9 rebounds per game in 2025-26), Francis Folefac (11.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg), and Tasman Goodrick (9.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg). The Orange also signed guard Aiden Tobiason from Temple (15.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg) and former Big East guard Garwey Dual from McNeese (8.4 ppg, 4.4 assists per game).