BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Syracuse @ Georgetown

February 25, 2006


The two winningest teams in Big East Conference play history (although, Connecticut is closing fast on Georgetown) renew their rivalry on Saturday afternoon at the MCI Center in Washington, DC. The Syracuse Orange, with a 7-6 conference record, still fighting to stay on the good side of the NCAA bubble, take on the Georgetown Hoyas, who are 9-5 in the Big East, and look to remain in the hunt for a 1st round bye in the Big East tournament.

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Georgetown snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday evening by turning back Rutgers, 66-50, at the MCI Center. They figure to be in for more of a test when the Syracuse Orange come to down Saturday. Last season, when the Hoyas were 8-3 in the conference, they could not get that final win to put them over the hump in the NCAA Tournament picture. This year, a season wiser, the Hoyas were able to turn things back in their favor against Rutgers and did it with defense and the improved Roy Hibbert in the middle.

The Syracuse/Georgetown rivarly was built in the original heyday of the Big East. For the Hoyas, a man named Thompson stalked the sidelines and a dominant center like Pat Ewing, Alonzo Mourning or Dikembe Mutombo roamed the middle. This year, there is another Thompson on the sidelin, John Thompson III, and a big man in the middle, 7'2 Roy Hibbert. However, much of the simalarities of you father's Georgetown and this version of the Hoyas end there. Georgetown uses a version of the Princeton offense and can unleash a deadly match-up zone defense. I personally love their froncourt trio of Hibbert, Jeff Green and Brandon Bowman. Green and Bowman might be the most versatile forward duo in the conference and can cause some difficult match-up issues for their opponents.

Syracuse was a team struggling mightily in the Big East. After a 3-0 start in the conference, the Orange then lost four in a row and six of eight to leave Syracuse reeling and in danger of being an NOT team. However, a mini-revival with home wins over Louisville and West Virginia have the Orange back in position, with another win, at locking up their usual spot in the NCAA Tournament. Taking on Georgetown on the road will be a good measure on how good Syracuse is. Prior to thier win over West Virginia, it could be argued that they had not earned a "meaningful" win. So, grabbing a win on the road against Georgetown would go a long way in easing some of the doubts on the Orange.

As long and athletic as the Hoyas frontcourt is, Syracuse might be right there as well with Darryl Watkins, Terrence Roberts and Demetris Nichols. Still waiting for the Orange to have a game when their inside talent of Watkins and Roberts comes to play on the same day as their talented outside players like Nichols, Eric Devendorf and Gerry McNamara. for much of the seaon, it has been McNamara carrying the load and getting some inconsistent help from Nichols and a little more steady help from Devendorf, but their post offense, save for a few dunks here and there, has been mostly a let down. They will need Watkins and Roberts to build on the success they had against West Virginia if they are going to be in this game. Georgetown will pose a much stiffer test on the boards and with their defense.

I might be crazy, but I think the Orange match-up well here. Neither team will go very deep off their benches. Syracuse might have a little more at their disposal, but neither team has much depth upfront. If either frontline has trouble with fouls, it could spell disaster. I think Syracuse is more susceptible to this. Gerry McNamara is also due for a strong game and could be able to find some room against the Hoyas. Getting post offense will be key to unlocking the Hoya defense to free G-Mac from the perimeter. Winning on the road is going to be very tough, I think the Orange hang in this game from beginning to end, but Georgetown is the better team and gets the win at home, but it should be close.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Georgetown 67 Syracuse 63

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: West Virginia @ Syracuse

February 20, 2006


Another edition of Big Monday and Syracuse looks to end their Big Monday struggles tonight against West Virginia. Syracuse has lost six of eight after starting off 3-0 in the conference and finish out conference play with WVU tonight and Villanova at home with road games with Georgetown and DePaul in between. Syracuse needs to win one and probably find a way to win another to assure themselves of a ticket to the Big Dance. If they finish 7-9 in the conference, they will REALLY be sweating out selection Sunday.

West Virginia started conference play 8-0, but has seen the schedule turn much more difficult and drop three of their last four. They did manage a very good road win at Georgetown in between road losses to Pittsburgh and Seton Hall. They returned home over the weekend and dropped a game to Connecticut and have to hit the road again tonight for a meetin in Syracuse. A tall order for a team that relies on 3-pt shooting and only plays seven in their rotation. Tonight is their 5th game, 4th on the road, in 11 days.

Here are the internet stories and previews on tonight's game:


WVU Seeing Orange Tonight (Bluefield Daily Telegraph)
Fatigue May Be Problem for WVU, SU (Register-Herald)
McNamara Draws a Crowd (Charleston Gazette)
Gansey Upgrades His Game (Syracuse Post-Standard)
WVU Looks to End Big East Slide (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Next Test for SU's Defense (Post-Standard)

To read our preview and see our game prediction, click read more below and don't forget to leave your prediction in the comments section!

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The good news tonight for the Syracuse Orange is that West Virginia is unlikely to put them at the foul line very much. In their win Saturday night against Louisville, Syracuse was a horrid 19-46 from the foul line. The bad news, West Virginia is extremely vulnerable on the inside, and Syracuse struggles to get offense from their interior players.

Being a strong outside shooting team, West Virginia would be a perfect candidate to shoot holes in the Syracuse 2-3 zone. However, Syracuse has had success coming out of their zone against the Mountaineers in the past and the SU length and athleticism could make WVU work harder for points and wear down their outside shooting. Syracuse will never defend as hard or as smart as Pittsburgh, but I think they can use that defensive blueprint as a model tonight.

Attacking the West Virginia 1-3-1 zone is the Syracuse key. Knowing where they can get open shots, in the corner and foul line extended, are the key and how to make the zone contract and dish to the soft spots. If they can find Gerry McNamara and Demetris Nichols in those areas and Eric Devendorf can penetrate to score and dish, the Syracuse offense should be able to click and that will open the back line for dunks from Terrence Roberts and Daryl Watkins. Syracuse needs to be smart with the ball and not turn it over, because when they do, it is usually followed by a defensive breakdown, too.

This game is an absolute must have for the home underdogs as Syracuse is fighting for their NCAA tournament lives. In order to get to 8-8 in the conference and to be safely in the Field of 65, this is one they have to have. If there ever was a right time to play West Virginia as their schedule has certainly taken some of the life out of their legs. They will not have the fired up home crowd to give them additional energy and when Syracuse's backs are against the wall, Jim Boeheim usually pulls out all the stops. I think Kevin Pittsnogle and Mike Gansey will get their share, but the Orange will put the clamps on the rest of the team, will SU take care of the basketball? That is where the game will hinge. Valuing their possessions and taking good shots is the key. With their season still hanging in the balance, I think SU will pay attention to details and pull out an important win.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Syracuse 66 West Virginia 63

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Louisville @ Syracuse

February 18, 2006


There probably has not been a more disappointing scenario for ESPN this year then the disappointing seasons suffered by Syracuse and Louisville in the Big East. When they put together their "dream" TV schedule, this did have the makings of an important Big East conference match-up and a good bet to have an ESPN Gameday production. However, both have losing records in the conference and Louisville is not even on the NCAA bubble in any seriousness at this time and Syracuse has been heading south, quickly.


For our the rest of our preview and prediction on the game, click below!

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Syracuse hit rock-bottom on Wednesday night when they were blown out, on their home floor, by a Cincinnati team they had demolished just a month earlier. When it was all said and down, Syracuse lot in every category that required effort, rebounding, defense, etc. And, the Syracuse faithful let the team hear it as the boos rained down from the rafters as Jim Boeheim cleared his bench as the Carrier Dome cleared out with still more than four minutes left in the game.

Things have not been any better at Louisville this year. Injuries have made the chance for any consistency impossible and a few academic suspensions have also thrown a wrench into the development of some freshmen. A light non-conference might have glossed over some of the short-comings, but the unforgiving Big East quickly exposed the Cardinals.

Louisville has five conference games left, after their trip to Syracuse they host DePaul before wrapping up with West Virginia (road), Marquette and Connecticut (road) and having to find, most likely, two wins to earn just a conference tournament bid, the Cardinals really must find a way to win this game.

Syracuse, on the other hand, plays a primetime game Saturday night and then must turnaround and lace them up on Monday when they host West Virginia Monday night. A tough task for a team fighting for the NCAA lives and an aspect of the conference scheduling that just burns coach Boeheim. The they finish out with road games at Georgetown and DePaul before closing the Gerry McNamara era in the Dome with a home game against Villanova. To insure their NCAA bid, they must win three games, to leave thier fate up to the committee, they still need to find two wins, so the Louisville game is a must have.

I do think the Orange bounce of the bottom they have hit and play with more life against the Cardinals. The crowd will quickly be behind their Orange again and their inside game will find things much more easier against a Louisville group that likes the physical game even less than Syracuse does. This is not the typical 3-pt shooting proficient Rick Pitino team we are used to and not having a true PG to crack the Syracuse zone will be their downfall. It almost sounds like my prediction for Syracuse against Cincinnati, and that did not turn out well, but, this one looks to be Syracuse's night.

NBE Blogger Prediction:
Syracuse 70 Louisville 65

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Cincinnati @ Syracuse

February 15, 2006



The Syracuse Orange are feeling a little bit healthier after a relatively easy win on the road on Sunday at St John's. Gerry McNamara rebounded from a string of injury-plagued games with 23 pts and 8 assists and Eric Devendorf had a strong game as well as the Orange evened their conference record at 5-5.

Cincinnati has not found much success on the road of late, losing their last five conference games on the road by an average of 15 pts a game. Their lack of depth is definitely exposed on the road as they tend to wear down as the game goes on and lingering injuries to key players have not made things any easier.

Here are the pregame stories and previews from around the internet:

Stats Show UC's Decline (Cincinnati Post)
SU, Bearcats Share Seat on the Fence (Syracuse Post-Standard)
Cincinnati at a Glance (Post-Standard)
SU/UC Preview (Post-Standard)
Syracuse Spurred UC Spiral (Cincinnati Enquirer)


To read our preview and see our game prediction, click read more below and don't forget to leave your prediction in the comments section!

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Syracuse and Cincinnati met earlier this season, in Cincinnati, and the Orange cruised in the 2nd half to a 77-58 win in the Bearcats' first game without Armien Kirkland. Gerry McNamara scored 29 pts and the Syracuse zone limited Cincinnati to 33% shooting from the floor and the Orange dominated the glass, outrebounding UC 51-27.

It has been a month since their first meeting and neither team has had a good run of success. The Bearcats are 3-5 since, with home wins against Rutgers, South Florida and Louisville, and the Orange have played a brutal schedule and are just 2-5 since with their wins coming against Rutgers and St John's.

Syracuse is 2-2 in the conference on the road, while Cincinnati is 1-5, and have lost 5 straight on the road after oepning up their road schedule with a comeback win at Marquette. Their average loss on the road has been 15.2 pts a game.

Cincinnati is a team that plays right into Syracuse's hands against the SU 2-3 zone defense. James White, the leading scorer for UC, has not made a 3-pter in 6 games and starting PG, 5'9 Devan Downey, shoots less than 29% from 3-pt range. 5'11 Jihad Muhammad has been shooting well of late, but he alone would probably not force the Orange to come out of their zone and their length and athleticism along the backline of their zone will make it hard for Eric Hicks and Cedric McGowan to find space inside to go to work.

Playing on the road is where your depth is tested and Cincinnati has no depth whatsoever. Syracuse is not a deep team themselves, but they can afford to give their starters rest and keep them fresher for crunch time. Cincinnati does have some very good athletes, but it is tough to take advantage of those strengths when you have to pace yourself throughout the game.

This game will probably look very similar to their first meeting. Syracuse will sit in their 2-3 zone and force the Bearcats to settle for the perimeter jumpers, which is not their specialty. I expect it to be close for 25-30 minutes, but never feeling Syracuse will be really threatened.

Syracuse is a 5.5-pt home favorite.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Syracuse 75 Cincinnati 65

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Syracuse @ St. John's

February 12, 2006


St John's has lost five straight games, but they had a tough task of going on the road for all but one of those games. Now, they return home to meet the Syracuse Orange in a possible make or break game for their season. The post-season is a defenite goal of St. John's, but to assure themselves of a trip to NYC for the Big East tournament or a shot at an NIT bid, finding a way to win their home games is a must.

For Syracuse, their season looks to be clearly on the brink. At 4-5 in the conference, things are looking a little bleak for the Orange, who have lost five or their last six, however, those four teams (UConn 2x, Pitt, Nova and SHU) have a combined conference record of 29-8! So, it is not like Syracuse has been losing to the teams below them in the standings. So, this is a big test to see how the Orange will respond.

To read our preview and see our game prediction, click read more below and don't forget to leave your prediction in the comments section!

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One things that I think is key in this game is the Syracuse zone. St. John's is not a good perimeter shooting team at all and if the Orange can force the Redstorm to settle for the perimeter jump shot, it could be a struggle for St John's to reach 50 pts. St. John's is quick and strong defensively and I look for them to bother SU's perimeter players, Gerry McNamara, Eric Devendorf and Demetris Nichols with some tough defense from Daryll Hill, Eugene Lawrence, Cedric Jackson and Anthony Mason, forcing the Orange big men to do some of the damage.

This game is going to be a grind. Whichever team gets some sort of effeciency from the perimeter and a big man to step up has to be the winner in this game. I think it is more likely that it will be Syracuse from the perimeter, but against the zone, look for St John's to have the inside edge.

With some internal team issues (Louie McCroskey), one has to question Syracuse's mindset. However, with three juniors and a senior in the starting line-up, I think they do pull together and regroup after their thumping at UConn. St John's offense, especially against the Georgetown zone, has me worried about their ability to put any points up.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Syracuse 59 St John's 54

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Syracuse @ Connecticut

February 8, 2006


The struggles of the Syracuse Orange have been well documented of late, as they have lost four of their last five games and needed a near miracle-shot to pull out an overtime win against Rutgers to prevent a five game losing streak in their last game.

Connecticut is starting to look like the machine many predicted they would be. The Huskies have won nine straight since dropping their Big East opener at Marquette, including seven conference games and non-league contests against LSU and at Indiana. The Huskies have shown they can play tough as well as being the normal stable of athletes that will run and jump with anyone.

Here are many of the pregame stories and previews found on the internet:

Adrien's Energy Spurring Huskies (Danbury News Times Live)
Huskies Looking to Play a Full 40 (Record Journal)
UConn Hits Season Rough Spot (Norwich Bulletin)
UConn Begins Difficult Stretch (Waterbury Rep Am).
Focus on Mental Toughness as Orange in Town (Register-Citizen)
Orange Will Be on Guard (Hartford Courant)
Williams WIll Pass on SU Zone (Courant)
Gay Starting to Reach Lofty Expectations (Middletown Press)
Better 1st Half Required (Syracuse Post-Standard)
UConn Scouting Report (Post-Standard)


For our preview and prediction on the game, click below!

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Rivalry week continues on ESPN and tonight's highlighted game is the Big East conference match-up with Syracuse and Connecticut. Earlier this season, the two teams met on a "Big Monday" and the Prange were run out of their own building early by the Huskies, but made it look better than it was with a late run before losing 88-80.

Things have also gotten a little dicey around the Orange team as key reserve Louie McCroskey does not appear to be currently with the team after supposedly being involved with a locker room confrontation with Jim Boeheim after Syracuse's last game, an overtime win over Rutgers. At this point in the season, distractions like these could really tear apart a team. Syracuse has seen these distractions (Deshaun Williams, Billy Edelin) be very detrimental in previous seasons, but Jim Boeheim has also been able to pull his team together. I think he will, but they just might have to hit a bottom as a group first...and, it would not surprise me to see that happen tonight.

Connecticut is never an easy match-up for the Orange. They have the athletic and tall perimeter players that usually make for a long night for Gerry McNamara shooting over them. His career struggles against UConn have been well documented and, if he struggles again, and he could be hampered by a thigh injury, the Orange chances turn as cold as a Connecticut winter's night.

With their tall, athletic and more physical front court and superior depth, Connecticut should be too much for Syracuse. Also, aided by the ESPN buzz and 9 PM tip-off, the atmosphere should be tremendous as the Husky fans will be ready to selcome Syracuse to town.

The 12-pt favored Huskies will look to play inspired for 40 minutes. This could be the low point of the Syracuse season and they can look to build back up from here.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Connecticut 85 Syracuse 67

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BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Rutgers @ Syracuse

February 1, 2006

The struggling Syracuse Orange, losers of four consecutive conference games, host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights tonight in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse looks to rebound after the demoralizing home loss Sunday to Seton Hall and Rutgers will look to continue some newfound optimism after their win in the RAC over Louisville on Saturday.

Here are the pregame stories and previews from around the internet:

Syracuse Hopes to Avoid 5-Game Skid (Syracuse Post-Standard)
One Basketball, Many Scorers (NorthJersey.com)
Rutgers/SU Scouting Report (Courier News)
Another Knee Injury Likely Ends Hill's Season (Courier News)
SU/Rutgers Preview Star-Ledger)


For a unique perspective on Syracuse and Rutgers, check out Mike Waters' SU Basketball blog on the Syracuse Post-Standard website where he and Glenn Wohl, of the RAC 'Em Up: Rutgers Basketball Blog and regular contributor to our weekly Bloggers Poll, go back and forth on tonight's game and things to look out for: Blogging with a Blogger.

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Rutgers and Syracuse both find themselves at 3-4 in the conference and both in need of this game. Syracuse has dropped four consecutive games in the conference and another loss like Sunday's home loss to Seton Hall and NCAA talk will definitely be intermingling with NIT talk. For Rutgers, the schedule ahead is a lot less daunting than what Syracuse has to face and stealing a quality win on the road could give them the momentum to make their own case for the NCAA tournament with a string of wins down the stretch.

The Scarlet Knights will once again be without Adrian Hill whose latest knee injury will likely keep him out for the season. As usual, finding a scoring compliment to Quincy Douby is a must. Several players have taken turns being the guy here and there, but if they could find someone to be in that role consistently, they will find life much easier. JR Inman has the potential to do so, but he needs to find a little more inside game with his size to go with a very promising face up game.

Syracuse continues to struggle scoring, especially in the half court offense as Terrence Roberts and Darryl Watkins continue to let the team down offensively. Their inability to develop as players has been one of the biggest disappointments in the conference this season. Each player is above average in terms of athletic ability and strength for thier positions, but they do not play to their size inside and niether has anything that resembles a face up game or touch around the basket. Without these two providing a scoring threat in the half court, teams can crowd Demetris Nichols and Gerry McNamara on the perimeter, making it difficult for them to get open and stationary shots. McNamara is usually forced to put up a shot on the move to get his offense going.

Last year, these two teams met at the RAC and Rutgers rushed their way to a 20-pt 1st half lead, only to watch Syracuse apply full court pressure and take the game away from them and win, a game that deflated the Rutgers season. I really thought this SU team was going to be one of Jim Boeheim's best on the defensive side with their length and athletic ability in the zone and the same traits would allow the Orange to unleash a full court press that could suffocate a team with young guards. Maybe the 4-game losing streak will give the Orange the sense of urgency to play with some more intensity on the defensive side and to play a smarter game on the offensive end.

Rutgers needs to keep close in this game and try to have Douby steal it in the end for them. Winning on the road in the conference has never been something that Rutgers has done very well and I do not think tonight will be that much different for the 8-pt underdogs.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Syracuse 72 Rutgers 63

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