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Thank the sweet, sweet Lord. One of college basketball’s greatest rivalries is back.
The Syracuse-Georgetown rivalry, considered to be one of the most iconic rivalries in NCAA Men’s Basketball, which stretches back to the late 1970’s with the formation of the Big East Conference, ended abruptly last season as Syracuse exited the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference, and couldn’t fit a rivalry match-up into their crowded non-conference play schedules. While the prospect of new rivalries was exciting, College Basketball fans lamented the loss of such a passionate, heated rivalry between two teams that, well, really seemed to just deeply hate each other. Two teams with such great players as Carmelo Anthony, Dave Bing, Rony Seikaly, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Allen Iverson, and so many more, coached by some of the most legendary coaches the game has ever seen: John Thompson, Jr., his son, John Thompson III, and the angriest coach in Basketball, Jim Boeheim.
I wonder what Coach Boeheim thought of losing Georgetown as a rival.
Well, lament no more, folks. Syracuse and Georgetown released a joint statement today saying that their legendary rivalry will resume in the 2015-2016 season, with a four-year, home-and-home series commitment. Georgetown will host the Orange at Verizon Center during the 2015-16 and 2017-18 seasons and the Hoyas will visit the Carrier Dome in 2016-17 and 2018-19. Specific dates have not been set for these games, which will probably incite many a riot in their respective cities.
The coaches had this to say:
“In the early days of the BIG EAST Conference, the Syracuse-Georgetown matchup quickly developed into one of college basketball’s best rivalries,” said Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim. “The games in that series have been played at a remarkably high level over the years. We’re looking forward to the challenge of playing Georgetown again.”
“Georgetown against Syracuse is one of the great rivalries in college basketball,” Thompson said. “From the days when my father was coaching against Coach (Jim) Boeheim to our most recent games, this is one of those games that generates passion from both sides.”
The teams have met 90 times in program history, with Syracuse leading, 49-41. The Orange won the most recent encounter, a 58-55 victory in the 2013 Big East Conference Tournament semifinals, which was an incredibly significant victory after the Hoyas absolutely FLATTENED the Orange, 61-39 at the Verizon Center, the final game of the regular season for the ‘Cuse; The Hoyas clinched the 2012-13 Big East Regular Season title with that trouncing. Syracuse went on to the Final Four that year, but lost to Michigan, 61-56. I think I pissed myself with drunken sorrow after both of those loses, but most likely pissed myself with glee when they beat Georgetown in the Big East Tournament and when they got to the Final Four, so we’re even on the piss-count.
All I know is that THIS Syracuse fan couldn’t be more excited for the rivalry to resume. A little too excited. In fact, I think I gotta use the potty. Excuse me.
[via Cuse.com]
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