Jimmy V game with Syracuse highlights Cowboys schedule

By Andrew Gilman

Published: July 19, 2006

Looks as if the Oklahoma State basketball team will get to do a bit more sightseeing.

And get to go back to the Jimmy V Classic.

Nothing official, but coach Sean Sutton says “there is a great possibility” the Cowboys will take on Syracuse as part of the Jimmy V Classic on Dec. 5 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“It’s pretty close to a done deal,” Sutton said of the matchup, which will be televised by ESPN. “We love to take our guys to great places, and New York is a great place to visit. The last time we went, our players really enjoyed the trip and got to do some sightseeing.”

And the last time the Cowboys went, they played in the Jimmy V Classic and beat Syracuse 74-60 in December 2004. This year’s meeting will be the fourth time since 1999 that OSU has played the Orangemen. Syracuse beat OSU 68-58 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2003 and went on to win the national championship. In that game, OSU led 27-10 in the first half. In 1999, OSU beat Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament 69-61.

The matchup against Syracuse would give the Cowboys another high-profile opponent this season. OSU will play a return game against Tennessee on Dec. 18 in Nashville, Tenn. The Cowboys beat Tennessee last season in Oklahoma City. Meanwhile, OSU will also play a tournament in South Padre Island, Texas, likely in late November. Wisconsin and Missouri State are possible opponents.

Syracuse went on a surprising run to the Big East Tournament title last season despite going 7-9 in league play. The tournament win gave the Orangemen a No. 5 seed, but they lost in the first round to Texas A&M 66-58 and finished their season 23-12. OSU went 17-16 and lost in the first round of the NIT to Miami.

Since 1993, The V Foundation has raised more than $50 million for cancer research. The Jimmy V Classic has been going on since 1995.

“This is a great opportunity for us,” Sutton said. “Madison Square Garden in one of the most famous sports venues in the world.”

Sutton said the entire OSU schedule should be completed in the next two weeks.