Consider it an early test for Richard Pitino’s Gopher basketball team.
They’re scheduled to play Syracuse in the Maui Invitational tournament on Nov. 25. Minnesota has met the Orange just once. It was an 82-75 Sweet 16 win back in 1990.
If Minnesota advances, they’ll play the winner of Arkansas and California on Nov. 26.
Syracuse, who lost to Michigan in the Final Four in April, is ranked No. 8 in the latest ESPN Top 25 poll.