Jim Boeheim’s comments surrounding his now ex-assistant coach of 36 years Bernie Fine have been scrutinized and for great reason. The face of Syracuse basketball came across as a selfish bully who wanted his word to be assumed as fact, just because he said it. In the middle of the JoePa scandal at Penn State University, critics are telling anybody who will listen that the 34 year Head Coach should be ousted from his position immediately. While I believe the university will make a strong statement and suspend its legendary leader, they will not fire Boeheim.

“It is a bunch of a thousand lies that he has told. What are people looking for here? I believe they are looking for money. I believe they saw what happened at Penn State and they are using ESPN to get money. That is what I believe. You want to put that on the air? Put that on the air.”

Boeheim allowed for no misconception when he was approached about the molestation allegation directed at longtime assistant coach and friend Bernie Fine. An outburst like this isn’t typically a good move in the interest of job security, but I encourage you take a step back after the “did he really just say that” factor has worn off.

For the last handful of weeks, we have viewed the Sandusky trial as the second coming of Watergate; where the cover-up draws as much, if not more, attention than the actual crime. When the PSU news first broke, did anybody jump to Sandusky’s side to defend him? No. And that is because everyone was truly aware of what happened; they were just hoping it would be swept under the rug before it blew up into what Sports Illustrated labeled “the most explosive scandal in the history of college sports”. Had they known, the Nittany Lion brass would have reacted like any other human being when one’s inner circle is being threatened, they would have lashed back.

Boeheim’s loyalty to Fine was evident when he came to his defense before there was any concrete evidence. His strong words were politically incorrect, but it was human nature for him to defend a lifelong companion whom he perceived as innocent. The fact that he made those comments saved his job, as it seems evident that he had no prior knowledge of the alleged offenses.

In today’s world of lying and deception, it is entirely possible that Boeheim could be viewed as an evil genius just trying to save face. Some might liken him to Rafael Palmeiro, as someone who will swear innocence until proven absolutely guilty. But while Palmeiro’s finger pointing at Congress was a calculated action, Boeheim’s quote came from raw emotion.

Boeheim should be suspended, as his position of power and influence suggests he shouldn’t make such a controversial statement: but his job is safe … for now.

AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli

By Paul Casey Gotham

Thumbnail tales: Jimmy V Week

Another week and another made for television basketball event. Eventually, the luster will wear off these extravaganzas. Until then, the best thing to do is ENJOY. And keep in mind the spirit of Jimmy Valvano: “Don’t give up.  Don’t ever give up.”

Memphis vs. Kansas – Legitimacy is there for the taking. Both teams are undefeated. Both teams have claimed spots in early-season rankings. Both teams might be a little hollow.

Kansas ranks number one nationally in field goal percentage (56.9), assists (21.1) and scoring margin (30.4). The three go together like Larry, Moe, and Curley, or something like that. The Jayhawks built those numbers against Longwood (113-75), North Texas (93-60) and Texas A&M Corpus Christi (82-41).   Arizona (87-79-the ‘Cats only loss) and UCLA (77-76 – the Bruins fell to 3-4 with a loss to Montana) slowed Kansas a little.

Memphis has wins over Miami (72-68 on November 12th), LSU (70-61) and most recently Western Kentucky (77-61). Memphis’s field goal percentage defense (36.9) is 19th in the nation, but they turn over the ball 16 times a  game (263rd in the land). At the same time, the Tigers get 11 steals per contest (9th).

How will Memphis fare? Josh Pastner starts three freshmen (Joe Jackson, Will Barton, and Chris Crawford).  The lights of Madison Square Garden tend to burn a little brighter than most. Sometimes the result is a spirited performance. Other times, youngsters experience dehydration.

Get ready for a track meet. Kansas can’t get enough possessions, and Memphis hasn’t valued possession of the ball yet this year.

Michigan State vs. Syracuse – Have the Orange been using some of their nine lives? Syracuse has had narrow escapes vs. William and Mary (63-60), Michigan (53-50), Georgia Tech (80-76), and North Carolina State (65-59). Are those wake-up calls? Or a harbinger of things to come?

The last time out for the Spartans, freshman, Kyrie Irving made senior, Kalin Lucas look like there was more green to him than his jersey. Is Lucas still recovering from his achilles tendon injury? How will this bode for Scoop Jardine? Can Jardine take advantage of Lucas?

SU leads the all-time series 9-7 with the Orange taking the last meeting of the two at the Dome in 2004 – 96-83.  Right now, the Spartans play for more possessions. MSU averages 78.6 per game while surrendering 66.5 SU scores 69.9 while allowing 58.9. The Orange, though,  need to score in transition to beat Michigan State. Don’t be surprised to see a different SU team tonight.

Big East/SEC Invitational

The BE and SEC offer an abbreviated showcase: four games over two nights.

Wednesday at Freedom Hall in Louisville

Notre Dame vs. Kentucky – the veteran Irish put their undefeated record on the line against the young Wildcats. Kentucky is coming off a loss at North Carolina. Notre Dame hasn’t played since November 30th – a victory over Indiana State (81-72).  Notre Dame has been getting some mileage out of the 2-3 zone. Kentucky hits 41 percent from long range. Three ‘Cats (Darius Miller, Doron Lamb, and Brandon Knight) have hit 14 or more from behind the arc. Might be time for a little HANDS UP HARRY!  Plenty of top ten teams squaring off with ranked squads this week. Could be plenty of movement. And Irish win, and ….nah!

Arkansas vs. Seton Hall – The Razorbacks are 5-1 with a victory over Oklahoma, but everyone is beating Oklahoma. Seton Hall is 3-3 with a win Alabama. Kevin Willard is in his first season coaching the Pirates. John Pelphrey is in his third at Arkansas.

Saturday @ The CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh

Tennessee vs. Pittsburgh - A pair of undefeated titans will lock horns. Bruce Pearl will be on the sidelines. So will Jamie Dixon. Ashton Gibbs has hit 46 percent (30-65) of his long-range attempts. The Vols have been stngy from behind the arc.

Rutgers vs. Auburn – Rutgers is 4-2. Auburn is 3-4. Rochester’s Dane Miller averages eight points and four rebounds for the Scarlet Knights.

Rebounds & Putbacks

Rush the Court offers their own break down of tonight’s games here. RTC’s “Morning Five” is always worth the read. BYU’s Jimmer Fredette will get a chance to play in his home town of Glens Falls, New York. But it was not without some jumping through hoops as Andy Katz tells everyone. By the way, Fredette and the Cougars play at the University of Buffalo on December 30th. ALL ABOARD! Ballin’ Is A Habit has a pretty good read on The Strange Recruitment of Adjehi Baru.

It’s not like the Purdue Boilermakers can afford to lose any more foot soldiers. Matt Painter and crew lost Robbie Hummel during the pre-season. Now, John Hart is out for a month.

JayVaughn Pinkston will have to wait another the season to impress. The much bally-hooed freshman has been suspended for the season by Villanova.

Got any college basketball splinters? Post them here.

Photo by Gloria Wright / The Post-Standard

By Paul Gotham

Setting: Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City is the location for the West Regional semifinal battle between Brad Stevens and his No. 5 seed Butler Bulldogs (30-4) and Jim Boeheim’s No.1 seed Syracuse Orange (30-4).

Plot: Horizon League faces off with the Big East for a spot in Saturday’s regional final.

Sub-plot: Syracuse will go without center Arinze Onuaku. The senior injured his right leg during the Big East tournament. Butler has not lost a game since December. A streak that covers 22 games.

Flashback: Butler and Syracuse have only met once before with the Bulldogs coming out on top. Brandon Miller scored 15 and Thomas Jackson added 13 as Butler downed Syracuse 66-65 in the second round of the 2002 NIT. Preston Shumpert scored 36 for the Orange.

This is the Orange’s  27th NCAA Tournament appearance under Boeheim. In the last 10 years Syracuse has reached The Dance seven times with Sweet 16 appearances in‘00, ‘04, and ‘09 and a National Championship in ‘03.

Butler is making its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance and third trip to the Sweet 16.

Foreshadowing:  Thirty-four Orange have earned spots in the NBA. Carmelo Anthony, Jonny Flynn, Donte Green, Jason Hart, Etan Thomas and Hakim Warrick currently hold spots in the Association. Three Bulldogs have heard their named called on draft day. Butler still awaits its first NBA guy.

Conflict:  Butler scores almost 70 a game while limiting opponents under 60. Syracuse scores over 81. Their opponents get less than 66.

Which team will dictate pace and tempo?

Syracuse holds opponents to 39.8 percent from the field, including 30 percent from behind the arc. Butler limits opposing shooters to 41.5 percent from the field and 31.5  percent from long range.

Can the Bulldogs continue their defensive against the firepower of the Orange?

Wes Johnson and Andy Rautins have led the Orange charge for much of the year. The two have combined for 28 points, almost 12 rebounds, and seven assists per outing.

Rautins’s selfless play has been key to the Orange success. The senior guard finds seams in opposing defenses that most could not. He does not always get credit for assists, but his passes always shift defenses. Add to that his 40 percent accuracy from behind the arc, and Rautins is dangerous.

Johnson makes a variety of plays for the Orange. His most overlooked contribution to the Orange attack could be his work on the offensive glass. Johnson has grabbed an offensive board in all but four contests this year. Two of those games were blowouts. The others were wins for the Orange where opposing defenses made it a priority to limit the junior transfer.

Freshman guard Brandon Triche averages just under eight points and almost three assists. Triche has shown flashes where he can drive strong to the basket and finish.

Rick Jackson grabs seven rebounds and scores almost 10 points a game. Can he continue his production with Onuaku on the bench?

Kris Joseph won the Big East’s Sixth Man of the Year award. Three weeks ago, he was a role player that could make the difference. Now, Syracuse needs to count on him. Can Joseph continue to respond?

Playing 21 minutes per game, Scoop Jardine has an assist to turnover ratio of 2.2 :1.

Gordon Hayward leads four Bulldogs in double digits. The silky smooth swing man provides versatility to the lineup. At 6’9″, Hayward can go inside and get work done. He averages almost nine boards a game and can finish in the paint. Hayward has also hit 40 trifectas on the season.  Stevens has called on Hayward to run the offense from time to time.

Matt Howard adds 12 points and five rebounds. He is text book type of player in the paint whose work could be a how-to video used at summer camp.

Shelvin Mack leads the Bulldogs with 64 three pointers. Mack hits 40 percent from long range.

The only senior in the lineup, Willie Veasley, chips in 10 points and four rebounds.

Ronald Nored runs the point at just a touch under 2 : 1 assist to turnovers.

Zach Hahn needs to have a big night if the Bulldogs want to stick with the Orange. Hahn hits 43.9 percent from long range.

Resolution: Butler is a talented team. They start three sophomores, a junior, and a senior.  Syracuse is as experienced a team as there is left in the tournament. Rautins is in his fifth year. Johnson is playing his fourth. Onuaku won’t be playing, but his senior experience will have an influence. Butler has the talent to stay in this game. The Orange practically played home games last weekend some two hours away in Buffalo. They will not have a partisan crowd behind them. That should make for a close game in the second half. But Syracuse’s experience will take over in the last ten minutes.

Got any comments on the game? Post them here.

By Paul Gotham

In less than 48 hours, we will be fully immersed in conference tournaments. As the regular season of college basketball ends, here is a smattering of questions to consider.

1. Does Jim Boeheim have any voodoo is in his bag of tricks? Louisville is 11-4 against Syracuse, including a Cardinal win less than a month ago. Rick Pitino seems to have a hex on his old boss’s team.

2. Can UNC make it worthwhile for ESPN? UNC at Duke is the game of the week. Did anyone see the Heels being 16-14 overall and 5-10 in the league? On paper, tonight’s game looks like a mismatch. But this rivalry is never about what is on the paper.

3. Can Purdue take a page from ND? The Boilermakers lost Robbie Hummel. It appears the Fighting Irish have lost Luke Harangody for the foreseeable future. ND is catching some momentum. Can Purdue do the same?

4. Truth AND Consequences? Villanova is 4-4 in the last eight. West Virginia is 4-3 over their last seven, including a home loss to…Villanova. Will the real Wildcats and Mountaineers stand up?

5. Why is Texas in the top 25? Seven and seven since the middle of January? Somewhere, there is a Mountain West team crying foul.

6. When will Rick Barnes learn his lesson? Barnes did a great job bringing in Kevin Durant and D.J. Augustin. How is the time spent on those recruits looking right about now?

7. Does Gary Williams know the tonic? The Terps topped Duke earlier this week. They get Virginia today. Is Maryland suffering from a hangover?

8. U.C.L.A. at Arizona State…in case anyone forgot or overlooked it or cared. It would serve me right if a Pac 10 team made a run in the tournament.

9. 3s or rebounding? Mike Brey’s team has put the fight back in Fighting Irish. ND has taken three in a row in the Big East. How are they doing it? Is it the three ball? Is it their rebounding?

10. Will Richmond avoid the pothole? The Spiders rebounded from an overtime loss to Xavier by trimming Dayton. Richmond plays at Charlotte today. The 49ers will be hungry for the upset.

Photo by Dennis Nett/The Post-Standard

By Paul Gotham

Setting: Tune in and put away the remote. You won’t want to miss a second of this Big East clash when Jay Wright and his No. 7 Villanova Wildcats (23-4/ 12-3) collide with Jim Boeheim and his No. 4 Syracuse Orange (26-2/ 13-2).

Plot: First place in the Big East and a possible number one seed in the NCAA Tournament hang in the balance.

Sub-plot: An on-campus record crowd of 34,616 is expected to file into the Carrier Dome. The university is already encouraging fans to plan ahead and arrive early. Both of Syracuse’s losses this year have come at home.

Wright and his Wildcat staff will have to make a decision about junior guard, Corey Stokes.

Flashback: Dwayne Anderson led six Wildcats in double figures as Villanova trumped SU at the Dome last February, 89-86. Dante Cunningham led all with 12 rebounds as Villanova got the better of the boards, 34-30.

Syracuse leads the all-time series 34-30, but Wright boasts a record of 9-4 against his Big East foe. Villanova swept the series a year ago, and the Wildcats have taken three of  four in the Dome.

Villanova has earned 30 invitations to The Dance, including last year’s Final Four appearance and a National Championship in 1985.

The Orange have made 26 NCAA Tournament appearances under Boeheim. In the last 10 years Syracuse has reached ‘The Dance’ seven times with three ‘Sweet Sixteen’ appearances (‘00, ‘04, ‘09) and a National Championship in ‘03.

Foreshadowing:  Thirty-four Orange have earned spots in the NBA. Carmelo Anthony, Jonny Flynn, Donte Green, Jason Hart, Etan Thomas and Hakim Warrick currently hold spots in the Association. Thirty-eight Wildcats have moved on to the Association. Malik Allen, Dante Cunningham, Randy Foye, Kyle Lowry and Tim Thomas spent their college days playing for Villanova.

Conflict: Villanova plays a four-guard set with no one taller than 6’8″ in the starting five. The Orange go with a front line of two 6’9″ players and 6’7″ forward.

In their two losses, Syracuse’s zone was susceptible to high-low action on the interior. But both Pittsburgh and Louisville had the bigs that could execute that plan.

How big of a role will be played by Villanova’s 6’10″ Mouphtaou Yarou? The freshman averages almost 13 minutes off the bench. He scores three points and grabs three boards but gets called for 2.3 fouls per game.

Villanova’s offense starts with Scottie Reynolds. The senior guard is at his best when he can exploit open lanes to the basket. He is adept at drawing contact and finishing. Reynolds scores 19 a game with 3.3 assists and 2.7 turnovers.  Reynolds hits 40 percent from behind the three-point arc. He will need success from long range to create gaps in the Orange zone.

Corey Fisher adds almost 14 a game along with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.9 : 1. Most of Fisher’s assists come from drive and dish situations.

At 6’8″, Antonio Pena represents Villanova’s tallest starter. He scores 11 and grabs 7.5 boards. The junior’s biggest challenge Saturday will be staying out of foul trouble while limiting the SU front court.

Reggie Redding chips in nearly eight points and five rebounds.

The big question for Wright deals with his decision regarding Stokes. The junior is valuable to the Villanova attack hitting 34 percent from beyond the arc.

Wes Johnson and Andy Rautins have led the Orange charge for much of the year. The two have combined for 27 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assist per outing.

Rautins’s selfless play has been key to the Orange success. The senior guard finds seams in opposing defenses that most could not. Rautins does not always get credit for assists, but his passes always shift defenses. Add to that his 41 percent accuracy from behind the arc, and Rautins is dangerous.

Johnson makes a variety of plays for the Orange. His most overlooked contribution to the Orange attack could be his work on the offensive glass. Johnson has grabbed an offensive board in all but four contests this year. Two of those games were blowouts. The others were wins for the Orange where opposing defenses made it a priority to limit Johnson.

Freshman guard Brandon Triche might face his biggest challenge yet this year. Triche averages just under nine points and three assists, but the Wildcats will bring more pressure than he has seen thus far. Triche has shown flashes where he can drive strong to the basket and finish. Can he do that against Villanova’s guards?

Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku are formidable pair in the paint. The two combine for twenty points and nearly 12 rebounds.

Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine give this Orange lineup valuable minutes from the bench. Joseph has scored in double figures in eight of the last nine Syracuse games. In 21 minutes per game, Jardine has amassed an assist to turnover ratio of 2.3 :1.

Go 'Cuse!

Resolution: Syracuse’s two losses are the result of complacency. The Orange carried a 13-game winning streak into their loss to Pittsburgh. Louisville has floundered this year and caught the Orange unprepared. Syracuse will not look past Villanova.

The Wildcats have struggled of late losing two of their last three. Wright’s gang will be prepared, but what effect will the Stokes situation have? Villanova can ill afford to lose any of their key contributors for this game.

Villanova will need as many easy baskets as possible. They will press and trap looking to create turnovers and lay ups. The Wildcats will need to slow the Orange in transition.

Villanova will stay close, but Syracuse’s bench will be the difference.

Got any comments on the game? Post them here.

Smiles all aorund in Syracuse (Dennis Nett/The Post-Standard)

By Paul Gotham

Few have suggested that Jim Boeheim is an innovative mathematician.

But after watching the 2009-10 version of the Syracuse Orange,  it is hard to ignore that the hall-of-fame coach has developed some new theories of mathematics.

Boeheim watched as his three leading scorers, Eric Devendorf, Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris, left the Orange program soon after the conclusion of the ’08-’09 season. Their departures subtracting a substantial amount from the SU offensive output.

Many predicted struggles for the Orange. Not one national pre-season poll mentioned Syracuse.

Boeheim and his Syracuse Orange have taken those subtractions and added to their sum for what could result in a run to this year’s Final Four.

When Devendorf, Flynn and Harris left, they took with them 45 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists per game. Andy Rautins, Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson remained, but concern revolved around whether the ’09-’10 team could survive. Could Rautins still score 10 points a game from the outside if opposing defenses did not have to worry about Devendorf ? How much would the Orange miss the rebounding of Harris? Most of all, could the entire team function with out Flynn’s play-making?

Twenty-one games into this season and the  Syracuse Orange have shown their addition happened by subtraction.

The difference, subtle as it may be, is hard to ignore.

Syracuse finished last season averaging 80.2 points while limiting opponents to 71.7. Currently, the Orange score 83.5 while holding opposing teams 64.8 points.

On the surface, the change looks insignificant. Syracuse is scoring three more points and giving up almost seven fewer. In other words, the Orange outscored opponents by nine last year. This year, that number is close to 19.

Everyone will point to, as they should, the impact of  Wesley Johnson. The junior transfer leads the team in points (17.1) and rebounds (9.0). But a stat that gets overlooked with Johnson is that for his 17 points, he is taking just 11 shots per game.

Johnson’s efficiency is the result of an offensive rhythm created by a group of guys who enjoy playing together. Nothing is more representative of this than the smile that Johnson wears so frequently on the court.

At 6’7″, Johnson can score in the paint, but the small forward also hits 44.6 percent from behind the three-point arc.

This provides a needed complement for Rautins. Opposing defenses can not simply focus their attention on Rautins. This factor has had a divisive effect on opponents. Johnson and Rautins have combined for 79 trifectas thus far. At a rate of five threes per game, or 15 points, this creates seams in the defense.

Seams that Rautins exploits for the good of his teammates. The senior has dished out over five assists per game. Beyond that, Rautins regularly throws the pass that leads to an assist. This effort does not go in his personal stat column but contributes to the end result of winning.

The common trait used to describe Rautins is that he is the glue. There is no doubt Rautins holds the Orange together on the floor.

Critics have voiced concerns about an increase in turnovers for Rautins. This is simply the result of an increase in touches. His turnovers are sins of aggression and in the long run still have a positive impact. Opposing defenses are forced to be mindful of Rautins and must account for his court vision. Again, this spreads the floor.

Freshman point guard, Brandon Triche has found his niche in the lineup. If nothing else, Triche’s play can be defined as simple. Triche looks to make the easy pass and keep the offense flowing.

In saying that, Triche is the opposite of Flynn, whose place he is taking at point. Last year, with the shot clock winding down, Flynn could be counted on to take the ball to the hole.  This meant his teammates were often watching the action instead of being the action.

That is not to suggest that Triche sits back and lets his teammates carry the scoring load. With the floor spread, Triche has shown he get into the paint and finish. He is averaging 10 points a game.

Triche’s willingness to look up the floor in transition has created more space. While Flynn might have been inclined to dribble the ball from foul line to line, Triche regularly rewards teammates, who run the floor, with passes for lay ups.

Jackson and Onuaku have been the primary recipients of the simple passes. The starting front court averages 19 points a game. The two combine for 11 rebounds a game, but their biggest contribution could be their inside presence that opponents can not ignore. Both measure 6’9″. Jackson weighs in at 240; Onuaku tilts the scale at 260. Rivals must keep a body on them in hopes to be successful.

Syracuse loses nothing when they go to the bench.  To say Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine fit in, is an understatement. While many players might come off the bench looking to prove they should be in the starting lineup, these two relish their role. Joseph scores 10 and grabs five boards per game. Jardine scores eight and has an assist to turnover ratio of 2.1:1.

As impressive as Syracuse is on the offensive end, it is their commitment to defense that makes the Orange a championship contender. The Orange limit opponents to 37.8 percent from the field (11th in the country). This is due in large part to Syracuse’s defensive transition. The Orange get back well and make opponents shoot over them.

The equation might be difficult to decipher for those outside the Syracuse program. But for Jim Boeheim and his Orange the numbers add up so far. The Orange have truly shown how the whole can be worth more than the sum of the parts.

By Paul Gotham

Setting: It’s a Big East battle at the Carrier Dome as Buzz Williams brings his Marquette Golden Eagles (11-7/2-4) to Upstate New York for a tilt with Jim Boeheim and his No. 5 Syracuse Orange (18-1/5-1).

Plot: Marquette opens play Saturday four games off the pace in Big East conference play. Syracuse is tied for second with Pittsburgh one game behind Villanova.

Syracuse has won five in a row including the last three on the road. Marquette has lost two of three.

Sub-plot:  Saturday is the only time the two rivals meet during the regular season. Marquette’s four conference losses have come by a total of six points. In a scheduling oddity, the Golden Eagles have already lost to Villanova twice – both times by two points. Marquette has used six different starting lineups this season.

After three games on the road, the Orange return home to the friendly confines.

Flashback: Jonny Flynn dropped 24 and Andy Rautins hit four threes off the bench as Syracuse closed last year’s Big East regular season with an 86-79 overtime victory over Golden Eagles.  Syracuse leads the all-time series 6-2.

The Orange have made 26 NCAA Tournament appearances under Boeheim. In the last 10 years Syracuse has reached ‘The Dance’ seven times with three ‘Sweet Sixteen’ appearances (’00, ’04, ’09) and a National Championship in ’03.  Marquette has earned six berths in the tournament the last ten years. The Golden Eagles reached the Final Four in ’03.

Foreshadowing: Thirty alums of Marquette basketball have laced them up in the NBA including current players Travis Diener, Wesley Matthews, Steve Novak, and Dwyane Wade. Thirty-four Orange have earned spots in the NBA. Carmelo Anthony, Jonny Flynn, Donte Green, Jason Hart, Etan Thomas and Hakim Warrick currently hold spots in the Association.

Conflict: Marquette leads the nation from behind the three-point arc hitting 43.1 percent from long range. The Orange zone defense limits opponents to 30.3 from behind the arc. Marquette is 143-of-332 from behind the line. In comparison, SU is 138-of-349.

Syracuse has taken 1,122 field goal attempts this season and averages 84.5 points per game. Marquette has attempted 1,003 shots and scores 75.5 per outing. The difference here might be slight, but don’t ignore it. Syracuse will force the Golden Eagles to play at a faster pace.

Can the Golden Eagles maintain their three-point efficiency in a faster game?

Eight Golden Eagles log at least 12 minutes a contest. Nine Orange play at least 10 minutes a game.

Lazar Hayward leads three Golden Eagles in double figures. The 6’6″ senior forward from Buffalo, N.Y. averages 18.5 ppg and 7.4 rpg. Hayward hits 82 percent (60-73) from the free throw line.

Hayward is joined in the front court by Jimmy Butler. The 6’6″ junior adds 14.8ppg and 6.6 rpg. Butler hits 58.8 percent (10-17) from behind the arc.

Darius Johnson-Odom leads Marquette with 40 threes. Johnson-Odom hits 51.3 percent of his trifecta attempts.

David Cubillan and Maurice round out the starting lineup. The back-court tandem combine for 14 points and six assists.

Marquette’s biggest challenge will lie in dealing with Syracuse’s size. The Orange go 6’9″, 6’7″ and 6’9″ across the front. Wesley Johnson, as he has been for all opponents,  is the immediate concern for the Golden Eagles. Johnson hits 45 percent (27-60) from behind the arc. The junior transfer averages 17 points and 8.7 rebounds.

Marquette can not afford to focus on Johnson. Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku combine for 19 points and 11 rebounds. Kris Joseph adds nine points and four rebounds off the bench.

Andy Rautins is the glue to the Orange attack. The senior hurts opponents in a variety of ways. Rautins averages 10 points, three rebounds and five assists per game. He has a success rate of 41.7 percent from long range and 74.3 percent from the free throw line. Rautins is invaluable when it comes to moving the ball. The 6’4″ guard sees the floor well and finds seams in the defense. He frequently makes the pass that leads to an assist.

Freshman point guard, Brandon Triche adds 10 points and three assists. Triche helps establish the Orange transition game.

Resolution: As in years past, Syracuse free-throw shooting has been a concern of late. The Orange hit 64.5 percent from the line. Marquette has 73.5% success from the stripe. This difference will allow the Golden Eagles to make this game close, but that is it. The Orange have too much size and depth for Marquette. Syracuse wins by single digits.

By Paul Gotham

Setting: The West Virginia University Coliseum is the site for a Big East Top Ten Battle as Jim Boeheim brings his No. 5 Syracuse Orange (16-1/3-1) to Morgantown for a tilt with Bob Huggins and his No.10 West Virginia Mountaineers (13-2/4-1).

Plot: Syracuse carries a three-game winning streak into the contest. West Virginia has split their last four after getting out of the gate with 11 consecutive wins. The loser of this game drops two games off the pace in the Big East with Villanova and Pittsburgh standing at 2-0.

Sub-Plot:  Saturday’s game is the only time the two rivals meet during the regular season. The Orange might still have something to prove. West Virginia earned a spot in the pre-season AP Poll at No. 10.  Syracuse fell into the category of others receiving votes.

The game is the second of three on the road for the Orange. Wednesday, Syracuse downed Rutgers, 81-65. The Orange travel to South Bend for a game with Notre Dame on Monday. After playing their last two on the road, West Virginia returns home. The Mountaineers take a break from conference play for games with Marshall and Ohio State next week.

Flashback: Madison Square Garden hosted the most recent matchup of these two as Syracuse continued on their ‘Marathon Men’ odyssey. One night after turning away UConn in a six OT thriller, the Orange downed WVU in overtime, 74-69. Eric Devendorf led the way with 23, and Jonny Flynn added 15 points and nine assists.

Jim Boeheim-coached Orange teams hold a 19-6 advantage over the Mountaineers.

Syracuse and West Virginia have combined for 10 NCAA Tournament appearances since 2001. The Orange won the title in ’03 and have a pair of Sweet Sixteen appearances. West Virginia reached the Elite Eight in ’05 and also have reached the Sweet Sixteen twice.

Go 'Cuse!

Foreshadowing: Thirty-four Orange have earned spots in the NBA. Carmelo Anthony, Jonny Flynn, Donte Green, Jason Hart, Etan Thomas and Hakim Warrick currently hold spots in the Association.  Thirteen Mountaineers have played in the NBA. Joe Alexander is the only current alum of West Virginia basketball in the Association.

Tone: Urgency will hang in the air as these thoroughbreds jockey for position. It’s only mid-January, but no team wants to dig a hole.

Conflict: Huggins uses six players 17 minutes or more. Boeheim deploys seven of his guys for 20 minutes or more.

Da’Sean Butler and Darryl Bryant lead the Mountaineers with 22 three pointers apiece. Butler hits 32.8 percent of his shots from long range while Bryant knocks down 39.3 percent. Will West Virginia need a long-range attack to combat the Syracuse zone? Can the Mountaineers have success inside with 6’9″ Devin Ebanks?

Syracuse’s rebound margin of 3.5 contributes to 85.2 points per game while holding opponents to 64.2. West Virginia holds a rebound margin of 8.5 leading to 75 points per game. Mountaineer opponents have scored 61.7 per outing.

West Virginia has played two fewer games than Syracuse but has grabbed 35 more offensive rebounds (241-206). The Mountaineers need success on the boards to win this game. Ebanks grabs 8.3 boards while Kevin Jones gets 7.8.

Butler leads three Mountaineers in double figures with 15.9 per game. Jones and Ebanks score 15.3 and 12.5 respectively.

Butler and Bryant also hand out three assists per game each.

Rick Jackson, Arinze Onuaku, and Wesley Johnson will have the charge of keeping the West Virginia front court off the glass. Johnson leads the way with nine boards. Jackson grabs 6.9 and Onuaku 4.1.

Johnson leads four Orange in double figures with 17 points. Onuaku adds 10 as do Andy Rautins and Brandon Triche.

Rautins’s contributions extend far beyond his raw numbers. The senior guard has an increased ball-handling role this year. Rautins hands out 5.5 assists per contests but has over two turnovers. His miscues have become somewhat conspicuous of late, but that is only representative of his increased role. With Jonny Flynn in the back court last season, Rautins rarely had to go beyond two or three dribbles. Now, he is frequently handling the ball from foul line to foul line. The result is an increased number of turnovers. Rautins’s average turnovers per game will decrease as the season continues.

The battle for transition points could tilt the balance in this game. Both teams are capable of prolific runs. At the same time, these combatants have shown they can slip into lulls. Will the importance of this game keep both teams at their peak? Can Syracuse take advantage of a deeper bench?

Triche has acclimated himself to keeping the Orange on the move. The freshman is adept at finding the open man up the floor and threading passes between defenders.

Both teams struggle from the free throw line. West Virginia hits 66.7 percent from the stripe. Syracuse finishes 69.2 percent.

Resolution: Last time Syracuse traveled to Morgantown, the Mountaineers put an 81-61 hurting on them. That was then, and this is now. The Orange are ready to show they can step up and win away from home. Johnson will prove too much for the Mountaineers to handle as Syracuse takes a one-possession game.

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Photo by Dennis Nett/The Post-Standard

By Paul Gotham

Setting: 900 Irving Avenue, in Syracuse New York, is the place as Josh Pastner brings his Memphis Tigers (10-3) to Upstate New York for a non-conference tilt with Jim Boeheim’s No.7 Syracuse Orange (13-1, 1-1).

Plot: It is Conference USA versus the Big East in a game that pits two teams who have combined for 11 NCAA Tournament appearances since 2003. Memphis advanced to the final in 2008 (since vacated) and the Elite Eight in ’06 and ’07. Last season the Tigers were eliminated in the Sweet Sixteen. Syracuse won the title in ’03 and earned Sweet Sixteen berths in ’04 and ’09.

Sub-plot: The game brings together arguably the two best transfers in the country. Memphis’s Elliot Williams played at Duke last season. Two years ago, Wes Johnson made the move from Iowa State to Syracuse. Coincidentally, Duke plays Iowa State immediately following this game.

Flashback: Jonny Flynn led the Orange with 24 points and six assists as Syracuse went into the FedEx Forum and took a 72-65 road win from the Tigers last December. Syracuse leads the series 2-1. Wednesday’s game marks the first time the two have met at the Carrier Dome.

Foreshadowing: The Tigers have sent 29 to the NBA including current players Rodney Carney, Joey Dorsey, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Tyreke Evans, and Derrick Rose. Thirty-four Orange have earned spots in the league. Carmelo Anthony, Jonny Flynn, Donte Green, Jason Hart, Etan Thomas and Hakim Warrick currently hold spots on NBA rosters.

Mood: With their Big East schedule ready to get into full swing, the Orange could easily overlook this game. Classes are not in session, and it is the middle of the week. On the other hand, the Orange will seek to right their ship after their first lost on Saturday to Pittsburgh, 82-72.  If Syracuse wants to prove themselves as an elite team, this is an important game to win.

A victory for Memphis could go a long way in securing an at-large bid, if needed, in the NCAA Tournament. Memphis’s three losses have been by a combined 10 points. The Tigers lost to No. 1 Kansas, 57-55. UMass toppled the Tigers at the buzzer, 73-72. The Tigers fell to No. 14 Tennessee, 66-59.

Conflict: Syracuse is second in the nation with 12.6 steals per game. Memphis ranks ninth in the category with 10.6 steals per game.  The similarities continue from there. The Orange outscore opponents by an average margin of 22 points. The Tigers hold a 20.1 advantage in this category. Syracuse hits .393 of their attempts from behind the arc. Memphis finishes .358 from long range. Syracuse limits their opponents to .298 success on three balls. Memphis opponents hit just .292 behind the arc.

Meanwhile, Syracuse averages 21.1 assists per game to 14.5 for Memphis. At the same time, Syracuse turns over the ball 15.9 times to 12.2 for Memphis.  Syracuse has a rebound margin of +3.2. Memphis holds a margin of 1.0.

All these could be null and void depending upon how Memphis responds to the Syracuse zone.

Williams leads four Tigers in double figures with 19.7.  The sophomore adds four rebounds and assists per game. What makes Williams difficult to defend is that he has 23 trifectas out of 66 attempts. At the same, the 6’5″ guard can go off the dribble and get to the rim (think of Dwyane Wade driving the lane). Can Williams penetrate the Syracuse zone? He will need to be patient and wait to catch the ball in reversal.

Wesley Witherspoon scores 10 point per game off the bench. The 6’9″ forward will need to be alert and find seams in the zone as Williams looks to drive.

Doneal Mack and Roburt Sallie combine for 21 points in Pastner’s four-guard lineup. Mack leads the Tigers with 28 three-pointers.  The senior hit four from long-range in a losing effort to Tennessee.

Will Coleman grabs six boards off the bench to lead the way for Memphis.

Johnson leads four Orange in double figures with 17 points per game. The junior adds 8.8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Johnson plays his best when the Orange need him. He scored 17 points in a win over Cal, 25 in a victory over UNC, and 17 against Florida. Johnson had 13 points and 12 rebounds as the Orange erased a six-point second-half deficit against Seton Hall.

Arinze Onuaku adds 10 points and 3.7 boards per game.

Brandon Triche scores 10 a game with 2.9 assists. The freshman guard had just one turnover in 26 minutes of play against Pittsburgh.

Kris Joseph adds ten points and 5.6 rebounds off the bench.

Senior, Andy Rautins leads the Orange with 32 three pointers. He also leads the team with 2.4 steals per game.

Rautins along with Scoop Jardine top the Orange with an assist to turnover ratio of 2.2/1.

Rick Jackson scores 9.9 per game with 7.3 rebounds.

Resolution: Coleman and Witherspoon match up well with Onuaku and Jackson. For the first time this year, the Syracuse front court will not have a size advantage over their opponents. The question for Josh Pastner will be whether he goes with his four-guard lineup or decides to match up inside with the Orange.

The Tigers are catching the Orange at the wrong time. Saturday’s loss served as the wake up call this Syracuse team needed. Memphis has the ability to make this a game in the second half. Syracuse’s rebounding advantage will prove the difference in the end.

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1st Team All-Casey

PG Sherron Collins – Kansas

SG Jeremy Hazell – Seton Hall

SF Wes Johnson – Syracuse

PF Damion James – Texas

C Greg Monroe – Georgetown

2nd Team All-Casey

PG – Jon Scheyer – Duke

SG – Elliot Williams -Memphis

SF – Robbie Hummel – Purdue

PF – Al-Farouq Aminu – Wake Forest

C – Cole Aldrich – Kansas

By Paul Gotham

Setting: The St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida is the backdrop for a top ten clash as Billy Donovan’s #10 Florida Gators do battle with Jim Boeheim’s #7 Syracuse Orange in the Big East -SEC Invitational.

Flashback: Syracuse leads the all-time series 2-1, including an 89-83 victory for the Orange in last year’s O’Reilly Auto Parts CBE.

Plot: Boeheim and Donovan teams combined for three national titles in the past decade. Deans of their individual conferences – Boeheim (34 years) and Donovan (14 years) are the longest tenured coaches in the Big East and SEC.

Sub-plots: The maintenance staff should prepare for soggy floor conditions as both teams will make it rain with 3s. After taking just 10 attempts from behind the arc in a 77-74 win over Michigan State, the Gators have taken 19 a game in three contests since – making 50% or better in those games. Florida made 12 of 20 in a win over Jacksonville.  As a team, Syracuse has made over 42% of their attempts from behind the arc knocking down nine or more trifectas in seven of eight games.

Tone: Both teams will have a chip on their shoulder trying to prove the pollsters wrong. Neither the Orange nor the Gators earned a top 25 ranking from any major media outlet.

Suspense: Syracuse’s rebound margin equals 3.4. Florida’s margin is 3.5. Which force will win out?

Conflict: Vernon Macklin meet Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson. The 6’10″ Macklin has avoided foul trouble thus far while posting 11.3 ppg and 5.9 rpg. 42.6% of Macklin’s rebounds come on the offensive end. Orange opponents have made it a priority slowing down 6’9″ wide bodies, Jackson and Onuaku. Can Macklin stay out of foul trouble while limiting Onuaku and Jackson? Will the Orange zone keep track of the Gator front court? Macklin should know a thing or two about the Orange; he transferred from Georgetown.

Florida averages 8.3 steals per game (49 in the past five games), and Syracuse swipes 14.3 per game. Can the Gator back court get out and disrupt the Orange? If Florida takes chances, will the Orange capitalize? Or will the defensive pressure bother SU’s three-point barrage?

Syracuse averages 90 ppg while holding opponents to 61.6. Florida scores 75.8 per game but keeps opposing offenses to 57.9.

Pick your poison: Five players have led the Orange in individual game-scoring this season. Nine different Orange have scored double digits.

Characters: Andy Rautins (4) and Wes Johnson (2) have hit five or more threes in multiple games.  Mookie Jones has hit 14 of 30 from behind the arc.

Freshman Brandon Triche has shown poise taking over the point from Jonny Flynn. While fans won’t see the spectacular athleticism of Flynn, Triche provides stability at the point. The Syracuse native holds an assist to turnover ratio of 1.2/1.

Erving Walker and Kenny Boynton lead the Gator attack with 13.9 ppg and 11.8 ppg respectively. The back court tandem has combined for 25 threes to date and have dished 68 assists with 34 turnovers.

Florida hits 71% from the free throw line with Walker and Boynton getting to the charity stripe a combined 61 times through eight games.

Resolution: Florida is 4-2 at The St. Pete Times Forum. The Orange have not been  out of upstate New York since November 20th. This could be a welcomed respite from the recent winter weather, but it comes at the expense of playing in front of a partisan Gator crowd.   Both teams have their sites set on an invitation to the NCAA Tournament.  Onuaku and Jackson will prove themselves too much for the Florida front court. Rautins will continue his sharp shooting as the Orange earn a key early-season win.

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