Two old friends are set to reunite at the most iconic venue in college basketball. The Syracuse Orange men's basketball team is reportedly finalizing a non-conference showdown with the St. John's Red Storm at Madison Square Garden for the 2026-27 season.

According to a report from CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein, both programs are working on an agreement to bring this classic Big East rivalry back to life under the bright lights of "The Mecca." While the exact date of the game has yet to be announced, the news has already sparked excitement among fans who remember the intensity of these matchups.

If confirmed, this will be the second Big East opponent on Syracuse's schedule for the upcoming year. The Orange are already set to face Providence in Boston, making for a nostalgic non-conference slate that harkens back to the program's conference roots.

The history between these two programs runs deep. Syracuse holds a 52-43 all-time advantage over St. John's, a rivalry that dates all the way back to March 1901. However, the Red Storm have had the upper hand recently, winning the last four meetings. The last time these teams faced off was during the 2022-23 season, making this a long-awaited reunion.

For Syracuse fans, this game also represents a return to one of basketball's most hallowed grounds. The Orange haven't played at Madison Square Garden since December 2021, when they faced Villanova. There's something special about seeing those familiar orange jerseys under the Garden lights.

Adding an extra layer of intrigue to this matchup is the presence of Donnie Freeman. The talented forward transferred from Syracuse to St. John's this spring after leading the Orange in scoring with an impressive 16.5 points per game. He'll certainly have extra motivation facing his former team.

And then there's Rick Pitino. The legendary head coach of the Red Storm is no stranger to the Syracuse program—he actually served as an assistant coach with the Orange decades ago. His presence on the opposing sideline adds another chapter to this storied rivalry.

This game is part of a larger scheduling strategy for Syracuse, which is reportedly looking to play five non-conference games against Power Five opponents this season. In addition to St. John's and Providence, the Orange will also face Indiana in Indianapolis and an SEC school as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. That leaves one more high-major opponent yet to be announced.

With St. John's expected to be one of the toughest tests on Syracuse's schedule, this game at Madison Square Garden promises to be a must-watch event for college basketball fans. The stage is set for a classic showdown between two programs with a rich history and plenty of current storylines to follow.