Syracuse forward Rick Jackson ditched his black shoes for a pair of orange shoes during Friday's NCAA Tournament game. (Dennis Nett/The Post-Standard)

A trip to the Sweet Sixteen is on the line when these two Big East teams square off  for second time this season. 11th seeded Marquette  Golden Eagles (21-14)  faces the 3rd seeded Syracuse Orange  (27-7) on Sunday in the third round of the 2011 NCAA Championship at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH.  The winner gets a trip to the Eastern Regional in Newark, New Jersey. To get here Marquette defeated 6th-seeded Xavier, 66-55,  and Syracuse defeated No. 14 seed Indiana State, 77-60, in Friday’s action.

Orange scouting report

Marquette coach Buzz Williams grinded his way to tonight’s game

It’s NCAA deja vu as Big East foes Syracuse and Marquette prepare to meet

PROBABLE STARTERS – Marquette

F – #12 Erik Williams (6-7, 210,So.)
F – #33  Jimmy Butler (6-7 , 220, Sr.)
C – #42Chris Otule (6-11, 260, S0.)
G – #1  Darius Johnson-Odom(6-2, 215, Jr.)
G – #23  Dwight Buycks (6-3, 190, Sr.)

PROBABLE STARTERS – Syracuse

F- # 00 Rick Jackson(6-9,240,Sr.)
F- # 32 Kris Joseph (6-7 , 210, Jr.)
C- #12  Baye Moussa Keita(6-10, 213, Fr.)
G- #11 Scoop Jardine (6-2, 190, Jr.)
G- #20 Brandon Triche (6-4,198, S0.)

In a previous match up this year, the Golden Eagles defeated the Orange 76-70.

TEAM STATISTICS………………. MU……………. OPP
SCORING …………………………………2653………….. 2403
Points per game ………………………..75.8……………. 68.7
Scoring margin …………………………+7.1 -
FIELD GOALS-ATT …………………929-1980……. 882-2021
Field goal pct …………………………. 4 6 9…………… . 4 3 6
3 POINT FG-ATT……………………. 184-520 ………..250-696
3-point FG pct………………………… . 3 5 4…………… . 3 5 9
3-pt FG made per game ………………..5.3……………….. 7.1
FREE THROWS-ATT ………………….611-884……….. 389-590
Free throw pct ………………………….. 6 9 1…………… . 6 5 9
F-Throws made per game …………….17.5…………….. 11.1
REBOUNDS………………………………… 1257……………. 1169
Rebounds per game ………………………35.9……………. 33.4
Rebounding margin……………………… +2.5 -
ASSISTS ………………………………………551………………. 538
Assists per game …………………………..15.7……………… 15.4
TURNOVERS ………………………………..423………………. 493
Turnovers per game ………………………12.1……………… 14.1
Turnover margin ………………………….+2.0 -
Assist/turnover ratio……………………… 1.3……………….. 1.1
STEALS……………………………………….. 250……………….. 215
Steals per game ………………………………7.1………………… 6.1
BLOCKS …………………………………………125……………….. 119
Blocks per game ………………………………3.6……………….. 3.4
ATTENDANCE ……………………………..280545 …………..211541
Home games-Avg/Game ………………18-15586 ………..11-10551
Neutral site-Avg/Game – 6-15914
Score by Periods ……….1st……. 2nd…… OT Totals
Marquette ……………….1331…. 1307 …..15.. 2653

TEAM STATISTICS…………………… SYR………………. OPP
SCORING……………………………………… 2506…………….. 2150
Points per game ………………………………73.7…………….. 63.2
Scoring margin …………………………….+10.5 -
FIELD GOALS-ATT ………………………910-1936………. 767-1949
Field goal pct……………………………… . 4 7 0…………….. . 3 9 4
3 POINT FG-ATT …………………………217-613………….. 239-764
3-point FG pct ……………………………… 3 5 4……………… . 3 1 3
3-pt FG made per game ……………………6.4………………….. 7.0
FREE THROWS-ATT ……………………469-706…………….. 377-571
Free throw pct ……………………………… 6 6 4………………. . 6 6 0
F-Throws made per game …………………13.8………………… 11.1
REBOUNDS ……………………………………1284……………….. 1152
Rebounds per game…………………………. 37.8 ………………..33.9
Rebounding margin ………………………….+3.9 -
ASSISTS …………………………………………..555………………… 484
Assists per game ………………………………16.3 …………………14.2
TURNOVERS ……………………………………415…………………. 476
Turnovers per game …………………………12.2…………………. 14.0
Turnover margin …………………………….+1.8 -
Assist/turnover ratio ………………………..1.3……………………. 1.0
STEALS ………………………………………….297…………………… 213
Steals per game……………………………….. 8.7……………………. 6.3
BLOCKS …………………………………………229……………………… 99
Blocks per game ……………………………… 6.7……………………. 2.9
ATTENDANCE …………………………….423924……………….. 235590
Home games-Avg/Game ……………..19-22312……………… 9-16170
Neutral site-Avg/Game – 6-15009
Score by Periods …..1st….. 2nd…….. OT……… Totals
Syracuse …………….1145 ….1344…… 17……… 2506
Opponents ………….1006…. 1126…… 18………. 2150

Notes courtesy of gomarquette.com and suathletics.

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.

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

By Paul Casey Gotham

Giving thanks

Gone are the days when Thanksgiving week sports viewing was limited to the NFL.  The feast of college hoops on television makes one wonder if the week is more about giving thanks for the beauty of the hardwood than the gridiron. From the Paradise Jam to the Coaches vs. Cancer to the CBE Classic to the Maui Invitational and beyond, college hoops fans have a buffet of action with which to choose.

These early season tournaments offer glimpses of what is to come, but be careful putting too much stock in the results of these games. For many teams and coaches the process helps lay a foundation for broader success.

For a summary of the goings-on, you will need to read this piece by Rush The Court.  While you are there, check out RTC’s Morning Five. Scroll down a little and read the piece on Bruce Pearl. Or, should I say Bruce Pearl’s wife.

Early returns

Hard to ignore Duke’s handling of Kansas State.  I wouldn’t have been surprised had the Wildcats taken that one. Certainly, Kyrie Irving had a coming out party.  Duke didn’t too much wrong, and as we were reminded throughout the match, they are a talented group. Yes, it was chemistry that made it work last year when the Blue Devils won the title. Of course, Coach K knows a thing or two about developing cohesion with stars.

Irving wasn’t the only Duke young gun getting it done. Mason Plumlee is ready to take the reins.

A K-State and Duke meeting in March has the potential of finding its way on to the list all-time greatest games. Rest assured, the bearded-one, Jacob Pullen, would shoot better than 1-12, and the Wildcats will do better than 11-23 from the free throw line.

Speaking of struggling from the free throw line

Maryland’s Terrapins shot a woeful 14-30 from the charity stripe in their 79-70 loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers. That doesn’t include the front ends of one-and-ones missed. Sophomore forward, Jordan Williams, went 2-7 from the stripe. Gary Williams used several teaching moments which, in the short run, might have cost UM the game. But, in the long run, the Terrapins should benefit. Gary Williams pulled Jordan Williams out of the game on a couple of occasions to emphasize patient defensive play. With the 6’10″ Williams on the pine, Pitt dominated the offensive glass. In all, Pitt grabbed 12 boards on the offensive end to Maryland’s 6. Overall, Pitt outrebounded the Terrapins 43-25.

The young and/or untested Terrapins should come together just in time to make  a run in the tournament.  Williams will improve in the post. Adrian Bowie is a point guard’s point guard. That is, he distributes the ball as his first priority. The senior is starting for the first time in his career. His teammates will learn to enjoy having him with the ball in his hands as he knows where and when to give it to them.

McGhee Ds it up

A big part of Maryland’s frustration came from dealing with Pitt’s center, Gary McGhee. The senior center dialed in the most valuable one-point performance possible. McGhee does one simple thing: he moves his feet. He has to be the most agile 6’10″ guy in college hoops along with Purdue’s JaJuan Johnson. He does all the little things on the defensive end. He defends BEFORE his man catches the ball. Think about that. He moves to deny the ball. When he commits a foul, it is NOT a shooting foul. Over the long haul, that will pay diviends. Beyond that, McGhee closes the gate. He doesn’t let his man get by him on the base line. His teammates have to love that. They can get out and deny their man the ball because they know McGhee is not going to need help in the paint.

McGhee doesn’t need to score when he has teammates like Brad Wanamaker. Wanamaker is leading a bunch of veterans that are out-shining the freshmen.

Kemba, Kemba, Kemba

When UConn’s Kemba Walker poured in 42 against Vermont, fans took notice. When he followed that performance with 31 against a very good Wichita State team, people started talking. 30 points against Michigan State? That’s unheard of. Not that he was before, but Walker won’t fly under the radar for the rest of the season.

In the zone

Old Dominion won the Paradise Jam using a frustrating match-up zone. The Monarchs beat Clemson 61-60 to reach the finals, and then knocked off Xavier 67-58. Earlier this season, ODU took Georgetown down to the wire losing 62-59. Old Dominion plays Richmond, Dayton and Missouri before starting play in the Colonial Athletic. Keep your eye on the Monarchs. They beat Notre Dame in the first round of last year’s NCAA tournament and lost by eight to Baylor in a game that was tied with 6:00 remaining. ODU returns four starters from that squad.

Dennis Nett/The Post-Standard

Struggling to get separation

When Syracuse coach, Jim Boeheim, says: “Right now, we are the most over-rated team I have ever had,” he is not using coach speak. Boeheim is not just trying to motivate his guys through the media. The hall-of-fame coach is giving an honest assessment. The Orange led Northern Iowa by three at half before pulling away late on the outmanned Panthers. Two days later, Canisius forced Boeheim to call a timeout four minutes into the second half when Greg logins knocked down a 3 to pull the Griffs within four. Since then, Syracuse trailed Detroit at half and needed late free throws to beat William and Mary 63-60.

Tassels for the Griffs

The Canisius graduation story is now national news. Click here to read the article from Sports Illustrated. Props to Canisius coach, Tom Parrotta, for using education as a recruiting ship. I have the benefit of getting press credentials to cover the Griffs throughout the 2010-11 campaign. If you haven’t already, check out the Griffs victory over St. Bonaventure and their romp over Eastern Michigan.

Byron Mulkey

Sitting courtside gives me the opportunity to see outstanding performances like the one by UB’s Byron Mulkey last night. Playing for the love of the game. Gotta respect it.

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.

Photo by Dennis Nett/The Post-Standard

By Paul Gotham

Who says the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee doesn’t have a sense of humor. Judging by the pairings in the West Region, Dan Guerrero and his gang shared a few laughs while putting together the bracket.

Consider this – how many at-large teams have 12 losses AND made it to the tournament in front of the team they most recently fell to?

The answer is two: Florida and Louisville.

Here’s the difference. Louisville fell in the Big East tournament to Cincinnati. The Bearcats finished the season 18-15. Can anyone make a case for Cincy in The Dance? Not to mention the Cardinals handed Syracuse half (2) of their losses.

The Gators on the other hand? Billy Donovan’s squad lost to Mississippi State. All the Bulldogs did was advance to the SEC tournament final where after 39 minutes and 55 seconds they had a three-point lead on the Kentucky Wildcats.

What happened next was nothing short of the planets aligning.

Down three, Eric Bledsoe hits the front end of a one and one. The freshman then gently puts his next shot off (who said the Wildcats didn’t want to win the SEC) the back of the iron. The ball bounces high and then (and all of this happened in 4.9 seconds) DeMarcus Cousins tipped the ball. John Wall grabbed the ball. John Wall dribbled. John Wall shot…an air ball. Cousins alertly noticed it was short. He grabbed the ball and scored – all before the horn. Kentucky went on to win in overtime. For their parting gift, Mississippi State got the NIT.

Florida got BYU. The Gators haven’t been IN the tournament since they last WON the tournament in 2007. It’s as if the committee said: okay, we’ll let you back in, but there is a price to pay. We are going to give you BYU in the first round. The Cougars haven’t won a tournament game since 1993. That looks good on the surface. The problem is BYU thrives on what Florida isn’t exactly very good at.

Statistically, Florida has two strengths: ball control and defense. That is if you want to call them strengths. Florida commits just 12 turnovers per game which ranks them somewhere around 50th in the nation. Other than personal fouls per game, that is the Gators best statistical area. To go with the low turnovers, they are in the top 100 of assists. Combining the two areas, Florida ranks 49th in the assist to turnover ratio.

Those are not exactly stellar numbers, but they are what the Gators have to hang their hats on.

Florida has one more statistical category in the top 100 – scoring defense. Specifically, the Gators are 76th in the nation for three-point percentage defense. Keep one thing in mind. Florida plays in the SEC. The SEC does NOT have one team in the top 60 in three-point percentage.

Along comes BYU. The Cougars are number three in the nation in which category? You guessed it: three-point field-goal percentage.

It is as if the committee showed the Gators some mercy by inviting them to the party only to make them responsible for serving the hors d’ouevres.

At least all of the joke is not on Donovan’s crew. The Cougars are number one in the nation from the charity stripe (78.6). The Gators only commit 14.5 fouls per contest. BYU’s strength at the line might not get a chance.

The humor in the West does not stop there.

Gonzaga played the final of the West Coast Conference tournament as if they were in a trance, losing 81-62 to St. Mary’s. The game was not even that close. How is it possible that the Bulldogs could look mildly complacent? Their reward is a date with the Florida State Seminoles – the number one defensive team in the country.

Gonzaga’s offense is ranked 26th in the country. They score over 77 points a game. They hit almost 50 percent of their shots (6th in the country). The Bulldogs will get a chance to see how good their offense actually is. The Seminoles limit their opponents to 37 percent from the field and 68 points per game.

The committee did not do Butler any favors. The Bulldogs, winners of their last 20, drew UTEP. The Miners front line is Butler’s antithesis. Matt Howard, Gordon Hayward, Willie Veasley are finesse. UTEP’s forwards play with brute force.  Derrick Caracter, Arnett Moultrie, and Jeremy Williams will try to dictate a physical match.

Those twists are fine. For Syracuse, their first round match-up is no laughing matter.

A sixteen seed versus a one seed. It is supposed to be a reward for the one seed. The only problem is the opponent. Five years ago, the Orange were a four seed when they lost in the first round. The thirteen seed Syracuse played? None other than the Vermont Catamounts. It doesn’t matter though. All the faces have changed. Sixteen beating a one seed? It can’t happen. Can it?

Match-ups to die for: Pittsburgh and Xavier each need a win for a rematch of last year’s Regional semi-final. The Panthers trying to put the clamps on Jordan Crawford could make for great theater.

Syracuse and Gonzaga could meet in the second round. Anyone want to post an over-under for that game? Gonzaga’s three-point barrage going up against SU’s zone. Not to mention the fun ‘n’ gun possibility in transition for both squads.

Syracuse versus Florida State could be rather bruising. Syracuse won’t get much in transition. Solomon Alibi will need to stay out of foul trouble against the Syracuse front line.

The chance of Syracuse tangling with Kansas State is tantalizing. Jamar Samuels, Curtis Kelly, and Dominique inside against Rick Jackson, Arinze Onuaku (if healthy), and Kris Joseph would be a battle to remember.

Players to watch: Remember the name Marqus Blakely. The list of Vermont Catamounts in the NBA is short. In fact, there is not a list. Blakely might start a list. Syracuse and Vermont play Friday night at 9:40. Tune in. It will probably be the only chance you get to see this kid.

UTEP’s Randy Culpepper is a gamer. He knows no fear. The mistakes he makes, are born out of aggression.

Matt Bouldin (Gonzaga) – he is pure basketball at its best.

Minnesota has a kid named Iverson. No relation.

Jimmer Fredette (BYU) averages almost 22 a game. He is from Glens Falls, New York.

Solomon Alabi (FSU) might be the best defensive big man in the country.

Jordan Crawford (XU) – what can I say that I haven’t already?

Jacob Pullen (KSU) – we might see a few beards in the crowd.

Almost forgot Rautins and Johnson. Oh wait, SU fans think there is a Johnson conspiracy or something.

What to look for: Onuaku’s health will play a role. He is not supposed to be back this weekend. The Orange could get through the first two without their center. After that, things could get dicey.

Frank Martin’s Wildcats do not beat themselves, but these guys have very little experience winning tournament games.

It would be nice to say this is Butler’s breakthrough year. Not in this region. Thankfully, Howard, Hayward, and Mack could return next year.

Sure, Pittsburgh is a threat. But if Jamie Dixon could not get to the Final Four with Levance Fields, DeJuan Blair, and Sam Young, how can he with this roster?

Have I mentioned Xavier?

What is everyone looking forward to from the West?

By Paul Gotham

Two wins earns a spot in the Sweet 16. Two more victories finds the Final Four. Then, if all goes well, two triumphs in Indy for the title.

How can something that looks so simple be so difficult?

Coaches and their teams have bunkered down feverishly making plans. They have been and will continue to pour over scouting reports and game tapes looking for answers, looking for weaknesses in their opponent. They will analyze match-ups and lineups seeking the right mix.

For the teams that endure and earn four victories or more, they will likely need a role player to step out of the shadows and take over the game.

Casual fans know Syracuse’s Wes Johnson and Andy Rautins. The two have been the faces of a surprising Orange squad. While many thought SU could not overcome the personnel losses from last year, the Orange proved addition can happen by subtraction.

A big part of Syracuse’s success is sixth man, Kris Joseph. When opponents have keyed on Johnson and Rautins, Joseph has exploited the middle of the floor. He blends size with quickness into a troublesome mixture for opponents. The sophomore forward gives the Orange 11 points and five rebounds off the bench. More than that Joseph brings an attitude. The native of Montreal could start for many teams. Rather than sulk about a diminished role, Joseph relishes it. He comes off the bench with an energy and enthusiasm opposing teams find difficult to counter. Joseph’s role for this weekend increased due to the injury of Arinze Onuaku. When Onuaku returns, watch for Joseph to maintain his contributions to the cause.

Scouting the Duke Blue Devils come down to this: figure out how to stop Jon Scheyer, Kyle Singler, and Nolan Smith. The three average almost 54 of Duke’s 78 points per game. Averaging nearly eight three-pointers per game, the Blue Devils stretch out their opponents. Brian Zoubek has taken advantage in the paint. Much maligned for most of his career, the seven-foot senior has found his niche. Zoubek averages over seven boards a game and has some of his biggest outputs against Duke’s toughest opponents: Maryland (17 and 13), Virginia Tech (16), UConn (11), and North Carolina (13).  Zoubek has developed a jump hook that he uses sparingly. He averages almost six points a game, but more than that he keeps opponents honest and helps the Blue Devils spacing on the offensive end.  With his size Zoubek allows Duke to extend pressure on the defensive end. After problems in the past the senior averages three fouls in nearly 18 minutes of playing time.

Xavier’s Musketeers have won nine NCAA Tournament games over the last six seasons. Twice, the Muskies advanced to the Elite Eight (’08 and ’04). If the X-Men are to return to the Regional finals, the brunt of the responsibility falls on the shoulders of Jordan Crawford. The sophomore transfer leads the way with 19 points. Opponents will also need to limit Jason Love in the paint and slow down Terrell Holloway at the point. But the player who could make the difference for Xavier is power forward Jamel McLean. At 6’8″, McLean takes up plenty of space. Opponents struggle with his athleticism. McLean is a ball-getter who slices through opponents for rebounds. The junior plays his best when the pressure is at its highest. McLean averages seven rebounds a game including seven double-digit nights. He grabbed 10 boards at Wake Forest and 13 at Florida. In a late-season win over Richmond, McLean turned in 13-rebounds and  nine points. Opponents will need to focus on Crawford, Love, and Holloway. McLean will take advantage of the opportunity.

If Butler is going to shed the Cinderella dress for the title of contender it will take the three-point mastery of Zach Hahn. Playing just 16 minutes a game, Hahn is second on the Bulldogs roster with 43 three-balls. He hits at a rate of 43 percent. Butler will need that to continue as opponents look to neutralize Gordon Hayward, Matt Howard, and Shelvin Mack.

Coaches often profess that there are no small roles. To win a championship, a team needs each player to accept his role. None do it better than Joseph, Zoubek, McLean, and Hahn.

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.

The Big East Tournament is not far away, and MSG wants to know who has the BEST FANS in the Big East!

MSG wants to feature you and your friends on the MSG College Hoops online hub. Just submit photos and articles to collegehoops@thegarden.com, showing why your school has the most school pride and we’ll post them on MSG.com/collegehoops. Be sure to include your full name and school name.

This week’s battling schools feature West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Villanova! Fans can vote online for their favorite school.

As conferences begin their post-season tournaments, MSG is the place for all the action. Check out MSG for exclusive college hoops videos and interviews. Fans can also catch the Top 10 College Basketball Moments at the Garden.

MSG – your sports source!

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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