They’ve been to 23 combined Final Fours, including seven in the past 15 seasons. The last time they both missed the same NCAA tournament was back in 1967, and they enter the new year in the top six for all-time wins among Division I college basketball programs. Yet on the football field, they’re an afterthought—at least, they usually are.
Kentucky and Syracuse are no strangers to success on the hardwood, and their fans are no strangers to spending each fall eagerly anticipating another season of hoops. But this year, you’ll have to forgive Wildcats and Orange fans if they’ve been a bit distracted.