NCAA basketball rivalries: Ranking the top 25 college basketball rivalries

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: A fan of the North Carolina Tar Heels (L) and the Duke Blue Devils pose for a photo while holding a sign referring to the Duke/UNC rivalry during the semifinals of the ACC Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 10, 2017 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /

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No. 5 – Syracuse Orange vs. Georgetown Hoyas

All-Time Series (Since 1949-50): Syracuse leads 45-41

For all the old-school Big East fans out there, this rivalry ranks among the most cherished in all of college basketball. These two schools were part of the founding of the Big East conference in 1979 and ushered in an era of great success throughout the 1980s under fiery alumnus-coaches Jim Boeheim and John Thompson Jr. The infamous “Manley Field House is officially closed” remark from Thompson after ending Syracuse’s 57-game home winning streak in 1980 unofficially brought on the era of ill-feelings between the programs.

What made the rivalry so fierce was the unparalleled levels of the conference and national success enjoyed by the programs. Eight of the ten Big East tournament championships in the 1980s were won by either Syracuse or Georgetown, and Georgetown made three final fours in the 1980s, won the national title in 1984, and was the national runner-up in 1985, while Syracuse made the 1987 Final Four and was national runner-up that year. Conference realignment took the bite out of this rivalry when Syracuse left for the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013, but the rivalry continues unabated as the programs have agreed to play at least through the 2022-23 season.

Game of Note: February 13, 1980 – Georgetown def No. 2 Syracuse 52-50

Many consider this the game that ushered in this bitterest of rivalries. The Orange ranked No. 2 in the country, had won 57 consecutive games on their home floor, and were set to play in the newly opened Carrier Dome going forward. Georgetown’s victory was bad enough, but Coach Thompson rubbed salt in the wounds of the Syracuse faithful when he uttered his infamous post-game comments.

The programs would go on to dominate the Big East throughout the 1980s and this was the springboard that catapulted this rivalry into the hearts and minds of all college hoops fans.