BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: RUTGERS @ SYRACUSE

January 16, 2008


The young Syracuse Orange return home to meet the offensively challenged Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a Big East match-up at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse dropped a pair of road contests last week, evening their conference mark at 2-2. Rutgers has yet to win in conference action (0-4) and continues to struggle on the offensive end.

Here are the local media previews on tonight's game:

Griffin Shot His Way out of Slump (Courier News)
Rutgers-Syracuse Scouting Report (Courier News)
SU Offense Looks to Get Untracked (Syracuse Post-Standard)


Syracuse is a 17-pt home favorite tonight as the host Rutgers, a team averaging a meager 47.5 PPG in their four conference contests (0-4). How are these for putrid offensive numbers? Rutgers is shooting 33% (70-209) from the floor, 27% (16-60) from the 3-pt arc and 56% (34-61) from the free throw line in their four conference contests. They have also turned the ball over 60 times and has been credited with just 31 assists in conference play.

Leading scorer JR Inman has been coming off the bench for Rutgers in conference play. The reason for the change in the line-up seems to be more than just a ploy to shake things up by coach Fred Hill. Also, excellent freshman guard Corey Chandler has been battling a stress fracture in his foot and it looks like the condition is not going to get better any time soon without extended rest. without being able to practice, Chandler is struggling to find any kind of offensive flow and is 4-29 from the field for a total of 14 points in the three conference games he has played. Without a healthy Chandler, the Rutgers offense has very little potential to imporve any time soon. Junior Jaron Griffin did show some life on Sunday, scoring 23 in a 64-49 loss to Louisville, but he has yet to show any consistency with his shooting touch since arriving at RU.

Syracuse has the opposite issue of Rutgers, the Orange can score with anyone, but they have had a lot of difficulty stopping anyone on the defensive side. They lost a pair of road games last week to Cincinnati (74-66) and West Virginia (81-61) and look to get back home and get back in the win column. Rutgers comes at the perfect time for the young Orange, who have six players in their depleted 8-man rotation playing major 1-A basketball for the first time. Learning the ins and outs of conference play and the increase in the intensity that Big East play brings is an adjustment for the Orange. The young players can not solely rely on their natural talent and ability, but need to be sharper mentally in preparation and their execution.

Syracuse also has few options when things start to go poorly. Jom Boeheim can not afford foul trouble or to sit players for poor decisions, which leads to lazy defense and a slower learning curve for the young team. Tonight, they need to get back to the basics on both ends of the floor with a consistent effort. Donte Greene is a mega-talent offensively, but the team can't get away from getting the ball to Arinze Onuaku in the middle. Syracuse needs to run as their halfcourt offense is not a strength. Rutgers will try to keep the game at a much slower pace than the Orange would like to see, but their shooting woes and inconsistent ball-handling will likely lead to SU getting many break opportunities and players like Paul Harris and Greene finish with the best of them in college basketball.

It would probably be wise for Syracuse to use their man to man press at times to push the tempo when they have the opportunity. If they consistently fall back into the 2-3 zone, the pace could fall into the hands of Rutgers and the Scarlet Knights could find some perimeter shots to their liking, keeping the score closet than anticipated.

I think Syracuse will score quickly and often at times, but Rutgers will creep back into the game once and a while. I think Rutgers will actually break the 50pt barrier, but it wont be nearly enough to win.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Syracuse 77 Rutgers 62