A rivalry as old as time will have a new chapter written in just a few months. On December 14th, the Orange will host the Hoyas for the 100th matchup between the two squads. The two former Big East rivals have matched up yearly for the past nine years. In the last meeting between the two teams, Syracuse came out on top in Washington D.C. 80-68. Before that though, SU and Georgetown had a true rivalry.
In the last nine years, fans from both sides get “excited” about the Orange and Hoyas squaring off once a year. In the Big East era though, these two teams met twice a year. The aggressive conference play between the two squads made it a “must-watch” game. This is part of why so many Orange fans have called for SU to hop back in the Big East, to be alongside basketball juggernauts like UConn, Villanova, etc.
Moreover, part of the reason why these two schools were the media around both squads. ESPN was new on the scene in the 1980s, showcasing the leaders of both squads. Jim Boeheim on one side, and at the time John Thompson on the other bench. These two started the rivalry and made it historic for future generations.
While the rivalry might be what it used to be, there is so much history between Syracuse and Georgetown. Even if the rivalry is not growing on a year-to-year basis like it once did back in the Big East era, it is still an instant classic every time these teams meet. In the last 10 matchups, eight have been decided by 10 points or less.
Regardless of whether the game doesn’t have the same feel as it once did, SU hosting game 100 in the dome is bound to be special. The last time the Hoyas visited the Orange, over 20,000 fans showed up at the Dome. Expect that number to be a lot higher this December.
