The Syracuse basketball season is on the horizon, and today it got a little bit closer. People have been wondering what the ACC schedule would look like this year for Jim Boeheim and company. Well you don’t need to predict, wonder, or hypothesize any longer, here’s the 20 game conference only slate! 
HOME GAMES
Dec. 22- Notre Dame 1
Jan. 5 or 6- #21 Florida State 1
Jan. 12 or 13- Clemson 2
Jan. 19 or 20- Miami 1
Jan. 23- Virginia Tech 1
Jan. 31- NC State 2
Feb. 2 or 3- Louisville 2
Feb. 13- Pitt 2
Feb. 20- Boston College 2
Mar. 1- #16 North Carolina 2
AWAY GAMES
Dec. 12- @ Boston College
Dec. 29 or 30- @ Wake Forest
Jan. 2- @ #16 North Carolina
Jan. 16- @ Pitt
Jan. 25- @ #4 Virginia
Feb. 6- @ Clemson
Feb. 9 or 10- @ NC State
Feb. 16 or 17- @ Louisville
Feb. 22- @ #9 Duke
Feb. 27- @ Georgia Tech
Storylines/Quick Hitters
SU has five games scheduled against opponents ranked in the preseason top 25. Those teams are #21 Florida State, #16 North Carolina, #4 Virginia, and #9 Duke. More teams could certainly climb into the polls and those teams could rise or fall.
SU plays home-and-homes against Clemson, NC State, Louisville, Pitt, Boston College, and #16 North Carolina. The Orange won in only 1 of those 4 arenas last season, the lone win against Boston College. Syracuse heads back to Chapel Hill after just one game last year in the regular season in the Dome and the other in the ACC Tournament, both of which SU won.
This is the second consecutive year the Orange play Duke just once in the regular season, this time in Cameron Indoor. SU plays Notre Dame, Miami, Florida State, and Virginia Tech one time and at home after traveling to each of those schools last season.
Toughest Stretch
No question the Orange end the season with a difficult three game slate. February 22nd SU is @ #9 Duke, then @ Georgia Tech, and finishes up at home against #16 North Carolina. Obviously, the Orange face a stiff test against the top ten Blue Devils. Syracuse won easily in Atlanta last year 97-63, but the Yellow Jackets got better as the season went on and had some tight battles on their home floor including an upset win over then #5 Louisville. SU was embarrassed last year in front of Jimmy Fallon against the Tar Heels.
I also considered an early season test including Dec. 29/30 @ Wake Forest, Jan.2 @ #16 North Carolina, and Jan. 5 or 6 vs #21 Florida State. I know the Demon Deacons are rebuilding after losing basically their entire roster, but SU could get caught looking forward to that big matchup against UNC. The Orange gave FSU everything it could handle in a 80-77 loss last year in Tallahassee but UNC and FSU back to back is quite a test.
There ya have it! SU’s 2020-2021 ACC men‚Äôs basketball conference schedule. The Orange also have some non-con action as well including the Big Ten/ACC challenge. Syracuse drew a tough road contest against Rutgers on Dec. 8th in the RAC.¬†
The Orange open the 2020-2021 season at home against Bryant on November 27th and will play Georgetown, date still undecided. That gives Syracuse 23 games and the maximum allowed this year is 25, so be on the lookout for a few more additions. Athletic Director John Wildhack continues to seek out more opponents as the season creeps closer and closer.  
Be sure to check out Jaron’s preseason ACC picks and be on the lookout for continued preseason coverage of Syracuse men’s basketball.
