BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: Syracuse @ Georgetown

February 25, 2006


The two winningest teams in Big East Conference play history (although, Connecticut is closing fast on Georgetown) renew their rivalry on Saturday afternoon at the MCI Center in Washington, DC. The Syracuse Orange, with a 7-6 conference record, still fighting to stay on the good side of the NCAA bubble, take on the Georgetown Hoyas, who are 9-5 in the Big East, and look to remain in the hunt for a 1st round bye in the Big East tournament.

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Georgetown snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday evening by turning back Rutgers, 66-50, at the MCI Center. They figure to be in for more of a test when the Syracuse Orange come to down Saturday. Last season, when the Hoyas were 8-3 in the conference, they could not get that final win to put them over the hump in the NCAA Tournament picture. This year, a season wiser, the Hoyas were able to turn things back in their favor against Rutgers and did it with defense and the improved Roy Hibbert in the middle.

The Syracuse/Georgetown rivarly was built in the original heyday of the Big East. For the Hoyas, a man named Thompson stalked the sidelines and a dominant center like Pat Ewing, Alonzo Mourning or Dikembe Mutombo roamed the middle. This year, there is another Thompson on the sidelin, John Thompson III, and a big man in the middle, 7'2 Roy Hibbert. However, much of the simalarities of you father's Georgetown and this version of the Hoyas end there. Georgetown uses a version of the Princeton offense and can unleash a deadly match-up zone defense. I personally love their froncourt trio of Hibbert, Jeff Green and Brandon Bowman. Green and Bowman might be the most versatile forward duo in the conference and can cause some difficult match-up issues for their opponents.

Syracuse was a team struggling mightily in the Big East. After a 3-0 start in the conference, the Orange then lost four in a row and six of eight to leave Syracuse reeling and in danger of being an NOT team. However, a mini-revival with home wins over Louisville and West Virginia have the Orange back in position, with another win, at locking up their usual spot in the NCAA Tournament. Taking on Georgetown on the road will be a good measure on how good Syracuse is. Prior to thier win over West Virginia, it could be argued that they had not earned a "meaningful" win. So, grabbing a win on the road against Georgetown would go a long way in easing some of the doubts on the Orange.

As long and athletic as the Hoyas frontcourt is, Syracuse might be right there as well with Darryl Watkins, Terrence Roberts and Demetris Nichols. Still waiting for the Orange to have a game when their inside talent of Watkins and Roberts comes to play on the same day as their talented outside players like Nichols, Eric Devendorf and Gerry McNamara. for much of the seaon, it has been McNamara carrying the load and getting some inconsistent help from Nichols and a little more steady help from Devendorf, but their post offense, save for a few dunks here and there, has been mostly a let down. They will need Watkins and Roberts to build on the success they had against West Virginia if they are going to be in this game. Georgetown will pose a much stiffer test on the boards and with their defense.

I might be crazy, but I think the Orange match-up well here. Neither team will go very deep off their benches. Syracuse might have a little more at their disposal, but neither team has much depth upfront. If either frontline has trouble with fouls, it could spell disaster. I think Syracuse is more susceptible to this. Gerry McNamara is also due for a strong game and could be able to find some room against the Hoyas. Getting post offense will be key to unlocking the Hoya defense to free G-Mac from the perimeter. Winning on the road is going to be very tough, I think the Orange hang in this game from beginning to end, but Georgetown is the better team and gets the win at home, but it should be close.

NBE Blogger Prediction:

Georgetown 67 Syracuse 63