BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: SYRACUSE @ CINCINNATI

January 9, 2008



After Tuesday night's action, only three Big East teams remain undefeated in the first week and a half of action (Syracuse, Georgetown and Notre Dame, all 2-0). Syracuse will take their 2-0 league record on the road for their first conference game away from the Carrier Dome when they battle the Cincinnati Bearcats.

Here are the local media previews of the contest:

Cronin Wants Full Arena Against SU (Cincinnati Enquirer)
Orange Ready for Another Road Test (Syracuse Post-Standard)
SU Takes Win Streak on Road to Cincinnati (Democrat & Chronicle)


When looking over the schedule for the week in the Big East, you can't help but look ahead to Sunday's match-up of Syracuse at West Virginia. As a college basketball fan, I can certainly do that. However, Jim Boeheim will have to keep his young squad focused on the task at hand, playing a conference road game on an improving Cincinnati Bearcats' home floor.

Syracuse has been able to ease their way into Big East action, facing St. John's and South Florida, two teams predicted to finish near the bottom of the conference. Now, in their first road conference tilt, they get to ease gently into action with Cincinnati, a program also predicted to finish near the bottom of the league and has had a less than enthusiastic fan following the last few seasons.

After losing Andy Rautins over the summer and Eric Devendorf in December to season-ending knee injuries, I do not think Jim Boehiem could have scripted the opening of conference play any better, schedule-wise, for his young team. With three freshmen and two sophomores in the starting line-up and a freshman and JUCO transfer picking up the majority of remaining minutes off the bench, the Orange have been able to slowly adjust to the differences in intensity and effort that comes along with conference play.

The good news for the Orange coming with the 2-0 start is that Dante Greene and Jonny Flynn do not play like freshmen. There is no question on roles with the two of them, Flynn runs the show and Greene runs the floor and scores. Arinze Onuaku has been establishing himself as an inside force in the conference and Paul Harris is finding his niche as a human wrecking ball on the wing. The Orange still could use some work shoring up the offense, but man for man, this team is as talented as any in the conference. Youth and depth are the areas that will hold them back at times.

The Bearcats started conference play with a bang, going to Louisville and knocking off the Cardinals 58-57 at Freedom Hall. The Bearcats had been showing improvement and played a tough schedule during the pre-conference portion of their season and they were ready to play physical and tough when the conference opened. St. John's brought UC back to earth a bit, handing the Bearcats a 70-58 loss on the road.

Last season, UC almost pulled off quite an upset as Marcus Sikes had a career night shooting three's against the Orange zone at the Dome. Eric Devendorf saved the Orange down the stretch. The Bearcats will have to find that shooting touch again to challenge SU tonight. The Bearcats made Louisville pay when they were left open behind the arc, but this is a team that can really struggle scoring on the perimeter, outside of sophomore Deonta Vaughn, nobody has shown much life consistently on the offensive side of the ball. The size of Onuaku will make life tough for Adam Hrycaniuk and the length of Greene in the zone will make it tough on John Williamson on the baseline. Syracuse matches up very well and as a 3-pt favorite, they should be able to hold UC at bay.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Syracuse 77 Cincinnati 71