BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: SYRACUSE @ SOUTH FLORIDA

January 2, 2008


Syracuse heads to the sunshine state on Friday and it will not be for a little holiday rest and relaxation. Especially with the memory of last season's embarrassing loss they suffered to South Florida in the Sun Dome fresh in their minds.

Here are some pre-game stories and previews from the web:

Ready or Not, Here Comes the Big East (Tampa Tribune)
Orange Head to Sunshine State (Syracuse.com)
USF's Jones Can't Find Consistent Rhythm (Post-Standard)


It looks like it will be another long Big East campaign for South Florida. The Bulls finished their pre-conference slate with a 5-7 record and lost highly anticipated mid-year transfer addition Mike Mercer for the season in the process. Mercer, a transfer from Georgia, suffered a torn ACL in a loss to Wright State.

Syracuse has had an excellent beginning to their season with just about everything going their way. Wins in the CBE over Kansas and Florida shot the Orange into the Top 25 rankings and a win at Memphis, without Eric Devendorf, stamped SU as contenders in 2009. Devendorf is not back after being suspended from the University in which he missed two games. He came off the bench to score 20 in SU's Big East opening laugher over Seton Hall.

Devendorf missed the entire Big East slate last season because of a knee injury and Andy Rautins, who has 16 three-point baskets in the last two games, also missed the entire season a year ago. With those two back and the emergence of power forward Rick Jackson being able to play with Arinze Onuaku together in the frontcourt, this is a much different SU team from the one that missed the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive season last year.

NCAA Basketball odds have SU as an 8-point road favorite in Friday's contest. The improved perimeter firepower of SU and the thin frontcourt of USF should have the Orange cruising to a victory in this one, even on the road.


Prediction:

Syracuse 75
South Florida 62