Official Ticket Marketplace of the Syracuse Orange
Syracuse University Men's Basketball History
Syracuse fielded its first basketball team in 1898, and the team achieved its first winning record three years later when John A.R. Scott started coaching the squad. The Orange played independent of a conference for decades, but when the Big East Conference coalesced in 1979, Syracuse came on board as a founding member. The team won 10 regular-season Big East titles until it joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013.
From 1976 to 2023, the program was coached by Jim Boeheim. During his tenure in the ’80s, Syracuse boasted a crop of phenoms, including Rony Seikaly, Pearl Washington, Sherman Douglas and Derrick Coleman. In 2002, future NBA star Carmelo Anthony played his freshman year at Syracuse before leaving for the NBA draft. The Orange won the NCAA Championship with Anthony in 2003. Syracuse has appeared in the NCAA Final Four six total times and overall has made the NCAA Tournament an impressive 41 times.
Syracuse's biggest rival is the Georgetown Hoyas, a team they’ve been squaring off against since the 1930s. Syracuse also has rivalries with the UConn Huskies, as well as a newer rivalry with the Duke Blue Devils.
Syracuse Orange Team Info
Conference: ACC
Team Colors: Orange
Team Rivals: Georgetown, Connecticut, Villanova, Duke
Syracuse Orange at the JMA Wireless Dome
Until the 1980-81 season, the Orange played their home games at Manley Field House, and then moved over to the 33,000-capacity Carrier Dome, which was renamed to the JMA Wireless Dome in 2022. Syracuse boasts some of the most dedicated fans in college basketball, as the team regularly sets attendance records at their home games.
