Texas Basketball to play in 2024 Legends Classic in Barclays Center vs. Texas Tech, Syracuse, Saint Joseph's

Texas is hoping to close out the 2023-2024 season on a high note, with the Big 12 and NCAA Tournament on deck. But the nonconference schedule for next year is already beginning to take shape. On Wednesday, it was announced Texas would participate in the 2024 Legends Classic in Brooklyn, NY.

“The University of Texas Men’s Basketball team will join Syracuse, Saint Joseph’s, and Texas Tech in the 2023 Legends Classic presented by Old Trapper at Barclays Center on November 21-22, 2024, the Gazelle Group announced Wednesday,” a statement said. “Semifinal pairings and television coverage will be announced at a later date.”

History is there with all three other programs for Texas but one sticks out more than the other. Potentially playing Texas Tech would reignite a rivalry we thought would go doormat for some time. There is not a lot of love between the Longhorns and the Red Raiders, as evidenced by this season’s bad blood in Lubbock.

Brock Cunningham was thrown out in the second half following a Flagrant 2 foul he committed while going for a loose ball. Texas Tech fans were not happy with Cunningham, canting “F*** UT” and eventually throwing debris onto the court.

Head coach Grant McCasland had to plead with the home crowd to stop so the team did not receive a technical foul. A wild scene at the United Supermarkets Center and it’s certainly not the first, just ask Chris Beard.

The Barclays Center would certainly be a different type of atmosphere, especially in late November. However, both programs will bring a little extra juice if they do wind up meeting on the court.

Texas has faced Syracuse, Saint Joseph’s once each

Texas does have a history with the other two teams participating in the 2024 Legends Classic, albeit a lot smaller.

If you go back to Syracuse’s last national championship during the 2003 NCAA Tournament, they played Texas in the Final Four. Carmelo Anthony went off with 33 points and unfortunately, sent the Longhorns home on a short journey back from New Orleans.

Saint Joseph’s once faced Texas in Maui, coming during the 2008 season. That one ended on a more positive note for Rick Barnes‘ team, winning by 18 points. Three different Texas players wound up in double figures, including AJ Abrams‘ 17 points.

We do not know if Texas will wind up facing Syracuse or Saint Joseph’s but another game will be added to the record books against at least one of them.