BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: ORANGE LOOK TO SNAP STREAK AGAINST WVU

February 4, 2009


A very important Big East conference match-up takes place tonight in the Carrier Dome as the Syracuse Orange will host West Virginia. The Mountaineers are 4-4 in the Big East and 15-6 overall on the season. They are coming off a 69-63 loss at Louisville where they dug themselves a large hole, trailing by 20 at halftime, before closing the gap but it was too little too late.

Syracuse has lost three straight games and four of their last five after a 16-1 start to the season. The Orange were 4-0 in the Big East, but now stand at 5-4 and desperately need to gain some footing as the second half of conference play is set to begin.

Here are some pregame stories and previews from the internet this morning:

SU's Onuaku Appears Tentative for WVU Game (Syracuse.com)
SU Hopes to Free Up Wings Tonight (Syracuse Post-Standard)
Scouting Report: Orange vs. West Virginia (Post-Standard)
Must-Win Game for WVU at Syracuse (Times West Virginian)
Syracuse Hungry for a Win (Charleston Gazette)
Ebanks Evolving, Improving (Daily Mail)
Syracuse Basketball in Danger of Complete Collapse (Rochester D&C)
Pivital Road Game for WVU (wvmetronews.com)


Although we still have one-half the Big East schedule left to play, this is an important game for both sides and the pregame stories available today from beat writers covering each team definitely confirms that thought.

It shoudl be a very good game and the early college basketball odds have Syracuse as the 2 1/2-point favorite on their home floor.

The biggest advantage most teams enjoy over WVU is size in the paint. Arinze Onuaku is exactly the type of player Bob Huggins' team lacks. Unfotunately for the Orange, they may be without their 6-foot-9, 265-pound interior banger as tendonitis in his knee leaves him as a gametime decision. Onuaku was listed as a gametime decision last Wednesday when SU played at Providence. He made an attempt to play, but in 15 minutes of action, he did not score and grabbed just one rebound in what should have been a favorable match-up.

The expectation was that Onuaku would be ready for the game against WVU, same with Andy Rautins, who missed the PC game all-together because of an injured ankle. While Rautins is still a bit swollen and sore, he should be a go, but in the last couple days, more questions have arisen about Onuaku's ability.

In the game with PC, SU was beaten, 100-94. Sophomore point guard Jonny Flynn poured in 35 points, playing all 40 minutes, and junior Eric Devendord added 17, also playing all 40 minutes. The Orange defense, however, was non-existent, yielding 100 points and allowing PC to shoot 54% from the field. SU also turned the ball over 21 times, while forcing just 11 turnovers of the Friars. Devendorf, himself, turned the ball over 9 times.

West Virginia relies on Da'Sean Butler, who averages a team-best 17.6 points a game, and senior Alex Ruoff (16 ppg) for the bulk of their scoring. Ruoff has not shot the ball as well as expected recently, but finding a comfort against the SU zone could help him shake some of his shooting woes.

The Mountaineers also rely on a freshman point guard, Darryl Bryant, for the bulk of their ball-handling chores. It is always a stern test for a frosh to penetrate the SU zone and dissect it, rather than just content to pass around the perimeter and settle for three's.

If Onuaku can play and be effective, he and Rick Jackson have a decided advantage of size and strength in the paint. WVU counters with several combination forwards in the 6'7+ range that are athletic and long, but can be bodied up effectively. They will attack, but solid fundamentals in the paint can limit their effectiveness, making Onuaku's availability the games biggest key to victory, for both teams.

This one has me nervous, with Onuaku, I would definitely go with the Orange. Without Onuaku or having him in limited capacity, this is a toss-up. The Orange need it, they have the scorers (Flynn, Devendorf) and an athlete in Paul Harris to get the job done. The week off hopefully has been put to good use and they win a good one.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Syracuse 75
West Virginia 73