The Big East is by far the best conference in college basketball these days. With four teams in the Top Ten (No. 4 Syracuse, No. 5 Pittsburgh, No. 7 Villanova and No. 8 UConn, based on the AP Poll) and seven teams in the Top 25 (No. 13 Georgetown, No. 14 Notre Dame and No. 24 Cincinnati), there is no debate. After the Orange's next two games vs. Seton Hall and St. John's, Syracuse will finally get a test with the next three games vs. ranked Big East teams (Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Villanova).
Coach Jim Boeheim and his Orange were once again well prepared with their matchup vs. No. 15 Notre Dame in Syracuse on New Year's Day. With the help from junior forward Kris Joseph's, 18 points and eight rebounds the Orange rolled to a 12-point win.
While watching Syracuse head into halftime with a one-point lead, I started to ask myself is Syracuse really an Top Five team? After about 30 minutes of research and re-watching the game the next day, Syracuse is not only a Top Five team in the nation, but has all the potential to win the NCAA tournament in March. And here's why...
Syracuse might only be ninth in the Big East in scoring (77.0 points per game) but they have the second-best defense in the Big East, thanks to the famous 2-3 defense designed by Boeheim. Syracuse only allows 60.1 points per game, which gives the Orange a +16.9 scoring margin (fifth in the Big East). Syracuse's 2-3 defense holds opponents to 37.7 field goal percentage.
Syracuse's lone senior and leader Rick Jackson's double-double per game (13.5 pts, 11.7 boards) helps, but more importantly his 2.3 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. Syracuse ranks second in the Big East in blocked shots (6.4) and steals (9.3).
The scary part about the Orange's team right now is that Jackson is their only senior and they have a freshmen class filled with talent. Coach B brought in a ridiculously young crop of talent that includes Dion Waiters, Fab Melo and CJ Fair.
It's not just about the stats and young talent with a mix of sophomores and juniors, the Orange just play well together. This is a close-knit team that tweet each other daily with inside jokes and stupid humor. That is the biggest aspect of a winning team. The closer a team meshes off the court, the better they play on the court.
Before the start of the season, college basketball analysts expected the Big East to just beat up on each other throughout conference play, which they will most likely do, but after Saturday, January 22 when Syracuse takes on seventh-ranked Pittsburgh, where Jamie Dixon's Panthers are 132–11 (.923) at the "Pete" (Since 2002), we will know a little more about this young team and how they will fare in March Madness. I will be so bold to say expect at least a Final Four appearance by the 'Cuse.
Tara Conner Drea de Matteo Trista Rehn Moon Bloodgood Kristin Kreuk
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