Syracuse, UConn, NCAA Tournament headline MSG college hoops slate

Syracuse and UConn, whose six-overtime clash in 2009 Big East Tournament has gone down in annals of Madison Square Garden history, reprise their rivalry at World's Most Famous Arena December 5. (Photo by Fox Sports)

By Jason Schott (@JESchott19)

Madison Square Garden is known as the Mecca of Basketball, and the schedule they have put together this season proves it.

The Garden announced their jam-packed college basketball schedule for the 2016-2017 season Tuesday afternoon, highlighted by the return of the NCAA Tournament.

For the second time in four years, the road to the Final Four runs through The Garden, as it will again be the last stop for one team before heading to Phoenix for the Final Four. On March 24 and 26, The Garden will host the 2017 NCAA East Regional, marking the first NCAA Tournament games played since the University of Connecticut furthered a magical run that eventually resulted in a national championship three years ago. The first semifinal of the 2017 East Regional will also be the 75th NCAA Tournament game played at Madison Square Garden.

The St. John’s Red Storm, coached by Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, will continue to call The Garden their home floor for six Big East matchups, beginning on January 14 against the defending national champion Villanova Wildcats. St. John's will also host longtime Big East rivals Seton Hall, Georgetown and Providence, as well as Xavier and Marquette.

The college basketball season officially tips off on Tuesday, November 15, when the State Farm Champions Classic returns to The Garden for the first time since 2011. The event features annual powerhouses facing off in two compelling matchups, as Kentucky battles Michigan State while Duke faces off against Kansas.

The 2K Classic Benefiting Wounded Warrior Project will once again be played at The Garden on Thursday, November 17, featuring Pittsburgh and SMU in the first game, followed by Michigan taking on Marquette. All four teams will return on the next day for the consolation and championship games.

To kick off a busy December, an old Big East rivalry returns as UConn takes on Syracuse for bragging rights in the Tire Pros Classic on Monday, December 5. The Huskies and Orange contested one of the all-time greatest games in college basketball history in their six-overtime Big East Tournament showdown in 2009, and will write a new chapter in their storied history at the World's Most Famous Arena this season.

On Tuesday, December 6, Duke returns to the Garden for the annual Jimmy V Classic, taking on the Florida Gators. In the second half of the twin bill, the Purdue Boilermakers take on the Arizona State Sun Devils. All four teams will come together to raise funds for The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

Under Armour and Madison Square Garden join forces for the first-ever Under Armour Reunion on Monday, December 12. In the doubleheader, Auburn takes on Boston College in the opening game, followed by Seton Hall against South Carolina.

The annual Madison Square Garden Holiday Festival presented by Advance Auto Parts is back for another classic matchup on Sunday, December 18. The Holiday Festival, the longest-running in-season college basketball event, will feature Rutgers against Fordham, followed by St. John’s against Penn State.

Big Ten Super Saturday returns to The Garden for the second year featuring a unique basketball/hockey doubleheader on January 28. The first session will feature a Wisconsin vs. Rutgers basketball game, to be followed that evening by a marquee college hockey showdown featuring Wisconsin and Ohio State.

In its 35th consecutive season, the 2017 BIG EAST Tournament returns to The Garden from Wednesday, March 8 through Saturday, March 11.

The 80th Annual Postseason NIT concludes the college basketball schedule, with the semifinals taking place Tuesday, March 28 and the Championship Game set for Thursday, March 30.

2016-2017 MADISON SQUARE GARDEN COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

STATE FARM CHAMPIONS CLASSIC 
Tuesday, November 15: Kentucky vs. Michigan State (ESPN, 7 p.m.)
Duke vs. Kansas (ESPN, 9 p.m.)

2K CLASSIC BENEFITING WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT
Thursday, November 17: Pittsburgh vs. SMU (ESPN2/ESPNU, 7 p.m.)
Marquette vs. Michigan ESPN2/ESPNU, (9:30 p.m.)
Friday, November 18: Consolation Game (ESPN2, 4:30 p.m.)
Championship Game (ESPN2, 6:30 p.m.)

TIRE PROS CLASSIC
Monday, December 5: Syracuse vs. UConn (ESPN, 7 p.m.)

JIMMY V CLASSIC
Tuesday, December 6: Purdue vs. Arizona State (ESPN, 7 p.m.)
Florida vs. Duke (ESPN, 9 p.m.)

UNDER ARMOUR REUNION
Monday, December 12: Auburn vs. Boston College, 7 p.m.
South Carolina vs. Seton Hall

MSG HOLIDAY FESTIVAL presented by Advance Auto Parts
Sunday, December 18: Rutgers vs. Fordham, 11 a.m.
Penn State vs. St. John’s (FOX)

BIG TEN SUPER SATURDAY
Saturday, January 28: Wisconsin vs. Rutgers (BTN, 12 p.m.)

ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY
Saturday, January 14: vs. Villanova (FS1, 12 p.m.)
Sunday, January 29: vs. Xavier (FS1, 6 p.m.)
Wednesday, February 1: vs. Marquette (FS2, 7 p.m.)
Saturday, February 11: vs. Seton Hall (CBSSN, 12 p.m.)
Saturday, February 25: vs. Georgetown (FSN 12 p.m.)
Saturday, March 4: vs. Providence (FOX or FS2, 12 p.m.)

BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP
Wednesday, March 8: First Round Doubleheader (FS1, 7 p.m.)
Thursday, March 9: Quarterfinal Doubleheaders (FS1, 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
Friday, March 10: Semifinal Doubleheader (FS1, 6:30 p.m.)
Saturday, March 11: Championship Game (FOX, 5:30 p.m.)

NCAA EAST REGIONAL
Friday, March 24: Regional Semifinals (TBD)
Sunday, March 26: Regional Final (TBD)

80th ANNUAL POSTSEASON NIT
Tuesday, March 28: Semifinal Doubleheader (TBD)
Thursday, March 30: Championship Game (TBD)