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