Syracuse basketball: ranking the best Orange hoops weekends in 2024-25

Both the Syracuse Orange men’s and women’s basketball teams recently finalized their full schedules for the upcoming season. Amid all the madness with football, Syracuse fans will be able to see both hoops teams in action just weeks from now.

With a new Syracuse basketball season looming, now is the time to start clearing off your calendars. Over the course of the 2024-25 season, both programs will be in action during the same weekend exactly 10 times. Amid that whole list, there are some pretty entertaining matchups for both teams that are simply can’t miss.

A few important caveats before we get to the rankings. We’re only counting games where both MBB and WBB play on the same weekend, regardless of whether those games happen to be at home or on the road.

Both programs only play on the same day once at home (December 21) the entire season, and there’s only two additional instances where the men’s and women’s teams play at home on the same weekend. All the other combos see one team play at home and the other play a game that at least is nationally televised for most people. For any road matchups, we’ve listed out where you can catch that game.

Let’s get to the rankings:

December 7-8

Men’s: Saturday, Dec. 7 versus Notre Dame, The CW

Women’s: Sunday, Dec. 8 versus Notre Dame, The Dome

Can’t ask for a better way to truly start basketball season. Both teams kick off conference play versus Notre Dame on the weekend. Syracuse’s men’s team faces a tough test in early December against a team that seems to be on the rise, and most know the reputation of Notre Dame women’s team. Of any combos on the board, this is the one where both games are very entertaining and will say a lot about the direction of those teams the rest of the year.

February 15-16

Men’s: Saturday, Feb. 15 versus North Carolina, The Dome — Women’s: Sunday, Feb. 16 versus Cal, ACCN

Out of any game on the calendar, nothing will beat the men’s team taking on UNC at home on a Saturday, especially after last year’s upset. As an added bonus, the women’s team the next day gets its first matchup against Cal since the Golden Bears joined the conference. You can make a case for this to be No. 1, but the double Notre Dame matchup is a pretty hard-to-beat combo and Cal isn’t the strongest opponent out there for the women’s team.

December 21

Men’s: Saturday, Dec. 21 versus Maryland, ESPN2

Women’s: Sunday, Dec. 21 versus Dartmouth, The Dome

When both teams are playing on the same day, it’s hard to rank this one worse than top-three. That context aside, this is a super underrated weekend. That December 21 women’s game is typically when The Dome is filled with a bunch of kids from the Syracuse school district for “School Day.” On paper, it always ends up being the most attended game. Plus, it’s in the morning, meaning you won’t miss the men’s team play a frisky Maryland team on ESPN2.

(Ed note: Syracuse should try to move the WBB game up to 10, then arrange to show the MBB game in the Dome. Get some donuts for the fans and try and make it a fun family event)

March 1-2

Men’s: Saturday, March 1 versus Virginia Tech, The CW

Women’s: Sunday, March 2 versus Boston College, The Dome

For both teams, the end of the season will be a critical stretch and see some big-time “swing games” in March. The men’s team will be on The CW for a late road test against VT, while the women play a regular season finale against BC at home.

Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

January 4-5

Men’s: Saturday, Jan. 4 versus Florida State, ACCN — Women’s: Sunday, Jan. 5 versus Florida State, ACCN

This is the second and final instance in 2024-25 where each team gets the same opponent on the same weekend (the other being Notre Dame in December). Both games are on the road, but nonetheless tough tests for both programs. For the women’s team, it’s also a rematch from last year’s ACC Tournament game.

February 1-2

Men’s: Saturday, Feb. 1 versus Cal, ESPN2

Women’s: Sunday, Feb. 2 versus Virginia, The Dome

The men’s team gets its first crack at beating Cal as members of the ACC. That game is on ESPN2. One day later, Syracuse plays in The Dome versus a rejuvenated Virginia team.

February 8-9

Men’s: Saturday, Feb. 8 versus Boston College, The Dome

Women’s: Sunday, Feb. 9 versus Wake Forest, The Dome

The main bonus here: at least both games are at home and right in the middle of basketball season. Neither matchup jumps off the page, but it’s still two games in two days at The Dome.

January 18-19

Men’s: Saturday, Jan. 18 versus Notre Dame, The Dome

Women’s: Sunday, Jan. 19 versus Boston College, ACCN

Both programs get home-and-home ACC opponents both on the same weekend. Each is sure to be entertaining.

November 16-17

Men’s: Saturday, Nov. 16 versus Youngstown State, The Dome

Women’s: Sunday, Nov. 17 versus Fairleigh Dickinson, The Dome

Both games project as should-be wins against non-conference opponents, but it’s the earliest opportunity you’ll get to catch each team in the Dome on the same weekend.

Now it’s your turn: which weekend are you most looking for to this Syracuse basketball season?