UConn vs. Syracuse exhibition brings back a rivalry college basketball fans have missed originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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UConn and Syracuse are meeting on a basketball court again Tuesday, giving fans an early-season game with a history that runs much deeper than a typical exhibition. The teams have not played each other in men’s basketball since November 2018. They spent decades as conference rivals before Syracuse left the Big East for the ACC, and UConn lists a 39-56 all-time record against the Orange. Tuesday’s game will not count toward that series record, but it gives both programs a compelling first test before the regular season begins.
The exhibition is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The game will air on NBC Sports Boston and UConn+.
A first look at two reshaped teams
For UConn, the game starts a three-exhibition run that also includes visits to Michigan State on Oct. 20 and Purdue on Oct. 27. The Huskies return guards Silas Demary Jr., Solo Ball and Braylon Mullins, giving Dan Hurley a chance to see how his returning pieces fit with the new additions.
Syracuse arrives with a roster that includes sophomore guard Kiyan Anthony, son of former Orange star Carmelo Anthony. The exhibition offers a chance to see the younger Anthony and his teammates in a high-profile setting, though a preseason game alone cannot determine what their roles will look like once the schedule counts.
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The rivalry is the hook, but the details matter
UConn’s history with Syracuse gives the matchup a natural storyline, but each team has practical questions to work through. The Huskies need to see how their returning guards operate with the new group. Syracuse can test itself against a program that has been a national title contender under Hurley.
Because it is an exhibition, the result will not affect either team’s record. Coaches can experiment with lineups and evaluate players without the stakes of a regular-season game. For fans, though, it is a rare chance to see two familiar names share the floor again.
The game also gives UConn an immediate measuring stick before its next exhibition at Michigan State. If the Huskies look connected against Syracuse, that will offer an encouraging early sign. If they struggle, Hurley still has two more preseason games to make adjustments before opening night.