University of Albany Men's Basketball to face Syracuse in Coaches vs. Cancer Classic - UAlbany Sports 2009

UAlbany will open next season by meeting Syracuse in the Carrier Dome in the regional round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, a source familiar with the contract confirmed Friday. The date was unavailable, although the regionals are held Nov. 9-13.

Then UAlbany will return home to SEFCU Arena to face three opponents in three consecutive days from Nov. 20-22 as part of the revamped Coaches vs. Cancer format.

Those three SEFCU Arena opponents will be Robert Morris, Detroit and Alcorn State, according to the Robert Morris Web site. UAlbany is guaranteed a total of four games.

UAlbany hasn’t faced Syracuse since a 72-55 loss at the Carrier Dome on Dec. 28, 2004. The Great Danes faced the Orange five times in their first six seasons of Division I competition, with Syracuse winning all five meetings.

The last time UAlbany played in the Coaches vs. Cancer event was to begin the 2005-06 season at the University of Florida. The Great Danes lost 83-64 to Florida in the regionals with a trip to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden at stake.

Under the new round-robin format, Syracuse will automatically advance to the semifinals at the Garden, no matter what happens, undoubtedly to ensure the largest possible crowds and television ratings. Syracuse hosts one regional while North Carolina, Ohio State and California host the others.

While UAlbany can’t advance to the Garden, this format does allow them to fill three home dates.

The Gazelle Group, which runs the tournament, isn’t expected to formally announce the rest of the field (including UAlbany) until this summer.