BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Syracuse @ South Florida

February 14, 2007



The South Florida Bulls kick off a two-game homestand when they welcome the Syracuse Orange to the Sun Dome. The Bulls looked to have some momentum as they were making a run towards the Big East Tournament after beating Notre Dame to start off February. However, a tough loss to St. John's on the road and a wallop at Louisville has sent the Bulls back to earth.

Syracuse has lost four of their last six games and can look extremely dysfunctional at times. If it wasn't for Demetris Nichols' 37-point outburst Sunday against St. John's, it could have been even worse for the Orange, but they were able to pull out the 2-pt home win. Still, Syracuse is 6-5 in the Big East and 17-8 overall, but face a very challenging schedule down the stretch in their quest to make the NCAA Tournament, tonight is a MUST win.

Here are the pregame stories and previews found on the internet this morning:

USF vs SU Preview (St. Petersburg Times)
Orange Head for Sun, Not Fun (Syracuse Post-Standard)


South Florida has not made a trip to Florida a vacation for Big East foes this season, winning three of their five conference home games. The Bulls also took Marquette to the wire before letting it slip away for a 70-68 loss. Tonight, the Bulls will look to deal Syracuse a devastating blow to their NCAA Tournament hopes as the Orange head south.

The Syracuse basketball team must be glad they are not home right now, where the weather is a cold 9 degrees and the snow is piling up. However, if they take this trip to Florida as a vacation, it will be an even longer trip home and will seem even colder when they return. After winning four straight in the conference, Syracuse has lost four of their last six to settle in at 6-5 in the Big East and 17-8 overall. With additional road games with Provience and Villanova, as well as home dates with Connecticut and Georgetown, winning this game is vital to their NCAA fortunes.

The Bulls have improved in their second Big East season, especially with the presence of junior Kentrell Gransberry in the middle. The wide-bodied big man will most likely make things very difficult on the Orange, who have the size and athletic ability with Terrence Roberts and Darryl Watkins to dominate the paint, but they rarely do. Gransberry averages a double-double in Big East play and his presence gives room for the athletic McHugh Mattis and the deadly shooting of Melvin Buckley to operate. Chris Howard gives the Bulls a true PG and gives their attack more depth.

The Orange are also depth-challenged, but they have Demetris Nichols, who is turning in a tremendous senior campaign. If the Orange guards are dedicated to getting Nichols the ball in position to score, he should have another big night. I also think Eric Devendorf has a good match-up this evening and should be able to penetrate on the Bulls' guards. A key here is Roberts and Watkins playing with high basketball acumen and sealing off the athletic Mattis, who loves to come from the help side and block shots.

Syracuse is a 2.5-pt road favorite and I think this will be a tight game at times, but Syracuse needs this win and gets it done on the road.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Syracuse 69 South Florida 61