BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Syracuse @ Rutgers

January 10, 2007

After dropping their conference opener against Pittsburgh, Syracuse hit the road and came up with an important road victory, winning at the Bradley Center over Marquette. Rutgers also dropped their opener, but went out and beat Cincinnati on the road and now open their home conference schedule by hosting the Orange.

Here are links to a couple of the pregame stories and previews from the internet:

At Home at Rutgers (Syracuse Post-Standard on RU coach Fred Hill)
Rutgers/Syracuse Scouting Report (Courier News)



Click below for our brief preview and prediction on this game and don't forget to leave your prediction in the comments section.

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The oddsmakers have made Rutgers a 6.5-pt underdog and the Pomeroy Computer has Syracyse as a 13-pt winner over the Scarlet Knights. Syracuse has been a team that has had their troubles playing in the RAC in the past. However, even Jackson St and Kansas St have been successful coming out with wins on the Rutgers home court this season, I do not expect it to be any different for the Orange.

Syracuse might not be very deep right now with injuries to Arinze Onuaku, Matt Gorman and the transfer of Mike Jones. Eric Devendorf has played better of late and has regained starting minutes, although not the privilige of starting, yet. Paul Harris is still trying to find his niche, but each game he instills a burst of enery for the Orange with his effort on defense and on the boards, learning to allow his offensive opportunities to come to him will dictate his playing time in the future.

It is a homecoming of sorts for Terrence Roberts and Darryl Watkins, a pair of New Jersey natives who left the Garden State for the Orange. Last year it was a rare Roberts' 3-pter at the Dome to thwart a Rutgers upset bid, led mostly by Quincy Douby. Without Douby, Rutgers has had a lot of trouble scoring. Anthony Farmer and Josh Wright are match-up at point guard and each team needs to come out on top in that battle whcih could dictate the game. Marquis Webb will have the assignment of stopping Devendorf when he is in the game, Webb is probably the best in the conference, but the Scarlet Knights will need the senior to provide a scoring lift as well. Webb is close a close friend of Watkins.

Syracuse has a tendency to play down to their opponent and if they do that again tonight, they could be in a very tough spot if the RAC crowd gets energized and begins the pull the Scarlet Knight energy level up. Will Rutgers have an answer for the scoring of Demetris Nichols? On this night, I think he is the difference and the Orange put it away in the last 10 minutes because they can score, and Rutgers can't.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Syracuse 71 Rutgers 60