Bulls to play Syracuse in 2018

One of the more natural games UB basketball should be playing more often is Syracuse. Up until last season the Bulls had not played the Orange since 2001.

Well the two teams are making up for lost time. UB is going to visit the Carrier Dome for the second straight year. Buffalo is heading to Syracuse on December 18th.

Last year the Orange won a hard fought game, and that win over a top 30 RPI team was a resume boost when the selection team met. In no small part the Buffalo game put Syracuse in to the tournament.

Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim noted that its win over a Top 30 RPI team like the Bulls went a long way in their inclusion in the field of 68.

Syracuse got in to the tournament as one of the final four teams and advanced all the way to the Sweet Sixteen following wins over Bobby Hurley’s Arizona State, TCU, and Michigan State..

The Bulls defeated PAC-12 champion Arizona in the first round.

Buffalo head coach, Nate Oats sees it as something the school should be striving to make happen as often as possible

”I think this a natural rivalry here in New York because of the proximity of the two schools, If you look at last season that game helped both of us with our NCAA Tournament resumes and one of the biggest things you are looking for in non-conference play is to build your postseason resume as much as you can entering conference play. Our guys really enjoyed the experience last season so for them it will be great to play at the Carrier Dome again and for our new players, I am happy they will get a chance to play against one of the most historical programs in all of college basketball.”