St. John’s and Syracuse are finalizing an agreement to stage a much‑anticipated showdown at Madison Square Garden this season, a venue that has long served as a neutral battleground for their Big East rivalry. The matchup would be the third power‑conference opponent on St. John's non‑conference schedule next season, adding another layer of intrigue to the early slate.
Historic Context and Series Record
The Johnnies trail the all‑time series 51‑41, yet they have won four of the five meetings since Syracuse departed the original Big East in 2013, including a 76‑69 overtime victory in the 2022 Legends Classic championship. Their most recent encounter at the Garden came on December 13, 2015, when a combined eleven three‑pointers from Federico Mussini, Amar Alibegović and Durand Johnson helped St. John’s pull away for an 84‑72 win.
Key players to watch this time around include Syracuse sophomore Kiyan Anthony, who will be looking to add his name to a lineage that includes his father, former NBA star Carmelo Anthony, and St. John’s newcomer Donnie Freeman, a former Orange forward who averaged 15.3 points and 7.5 rebounds in two seasons at Syracuse.
New Coaching Direction
Syracuse enters the matchup under first‑year head coach Gerry McNamara, who guided Siena to the NCAA Tournament before taking the reins at his alma mater. McNamara has bolstered the roster with transfers Gavin Doty, Francis Folefac, Tasman Goodrick, as well as guards Aiden Tobiason from Temple and Garwey Dual from McNeese.
The Orange are also set to test themselves against other power‑conference foes, hosting Arizona on December 5 and traveling to Alabama on December 12, before participating in the 16‑team Players’ Era Festival in Las Vegas. St. John’s schedule adds another layer of intrigue, as they will also open the season against Arizona and later face Alabama, while the Garden appearance marks the third power‑conference opponent on their non‑conference slate.
With a blend of seasoned transfers, rising sophomores, and a coach eager to restore national relevance, both programs view the upcoming Garden clash as a pivotal early‑season barometer.