Syracuse Preview
February 25, 2003 11:14 AM | General
February 25, 2003
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – West Virginia is tangling with a different animal Wednesday night when it takes on No. 15 Syracuse in the Carrier Dome.
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| West Virginia's Drew Schifino is in the midst of a 33-game double-figure scoring streak. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
Syracuse has been an ordinary team away from the home comforts of the Carrier Dome. SU has posted a 4-4 record and an average of just 66.7 points per game before last Sunday’s 76-75 victory at Michigan State. Syracuse’s highest road scoring total this year was a 94-80 win at West Virginia on Feb. 8.
Inside the Carrier Dome, however, Syracuse has been unbeatable winning all 16 contests this season and averaging 85.5 points per game.
“The task doesn’t get any easier,” said West Virginia coach John Beilein. “In order for us to get better we’ve got to see all bits and kinds and this is certainly a difficult one.”
Beilein has coached in the Carrier Dome three times with Canisius and Richmond and he has gone away impressed every time.
“It’s a unique place because they fill it and it’s a great environment,” he said.
Beilein is also quick to point out that the reason the Orangemen are so tough at home is because they have outstanding players.
In its last home outing against St. John’s, Syracuse (19-4, 9-3) won 66-60 on Feb. 18 and is in the midst of a three-game winning streak entering Wednesday night’s game against West Virginia.
Last Sunday, Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to help Syracuse to an important road victory at Michigan State. Barring a complete collapse Syracuse is now assured an NCAA tournament bid. The Orangemen still have its sights set on winning the Big East West division and grabbing a coveted first round bye in the Big East tournament.
SU is tied with Pitt on the West side and after West Virginia, has games remaining at Georgetown, at Notre Dame and at home against Rutgers.
Anthony, a favorite for Big East freshman of the year, leads Syracuse with an average of 21.8 points per game. The 6-foot-8 forward is also grabbing a team-best 9.6 rebounds per game and is shooting 46.2 percent from the floor.
Six-eight sophomore forward Hakim Warrick has added extra firepower in the paint with averages of 15.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Freshman guard Gerry McNamara has been one of the biggest surprises in the conference this year, averaging 14 points and 4.9 assists per game.
Senior Kueth Duany is averaging 12.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game and is joined in the starting lineup by 7-foot center Craig Forth, who averages 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Freshman Billy Edelin is the top player off the bench averaging 7 points and 2.6 assists in 11 games. Edelin was particularly damaging against West Virginia, scoring 18 points on 8 of 11 shooting off the bench in Morgantown.
In that first game West Virginia jumped out to a big 15-point first half lead before Syracuse closed with a flurry. The Orangemen outscored West Virginia 48-33 in the second half to win its 16th game of the season.
Meanwhile, West Virginia (13-11, 4-8) is looking to snap a two-game losing streak after close home losses to Notre Dame and Seton Hall. WVU has lost four of its last five games and has failed to score more than 70 points in each its last four games.
Sophomore Drew Schifino continues to lead the Mountaineers in scoring with an average of 20.8 points per game.
Freshman Kevin Pittsnogle had an outstanding game earlier this year against Syracuse scoring 24 points, and averages 12.1 points per game. The 6-10 is the top three-point shooter in the country making 53 percent of his threes.
Sophomore Tyrone Sally averages 9 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, and is joined in the starting lineup by freshmen guards Joe Herber (6.8 ppg., 3.9 rpg.) and Jarmon Durisseau-Collins (2.5 ppg., 2.6 rpg.).
Six-seven Chaz Briggs is the top player off the bench with averages of 5.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
Tip off for the game is set for 7 p.m. and the contest will be televised on ESPN Regional (Dave Ryan and Doris Burke). Stations in West Virginia carrying the telecast are WVFX (Clarksburg), WLPX (Charleston), WTRF (Wheeling) and WJAL (Chambersburg, Pa.).
MSN’s radio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m.
Notebook: Wednesday night’s game will be West Virginia’s seventh against a nationally ranked team this season. In succession the Mountaineers have played No. 9 Florida, No. 3 Pitt, No. 11 Notre Dame, No. 19 Syracuse, No. 7 Pitt, No. 12 Notre Dame and now No. 15 Syracuse … West Virginia’s only victory in the Carrier Dome came in 1996 when the Mountaineers defeated Syracuse, 101-79 … West Virginia is 3-15 all-time at Syracuse …Drew Schifino has been better on the road this year, averaging 23.1 points in WVU’s nine road games this season. He is in the midst of a streak of 33 straight games scoring double figures dating back to last year … senior forward Chaz Briggs needs just 20 more field goal attempts to qualify for the school record in field goal percentage. He has currently made 61 of 80 field goal attempts for 76.3 percent … for the most part West Virginia has used the same starting lineup for the entire season: Schifino, Pittsnogle, Sally, Herber and Durisseau-Collins. Each has more than 21 starts to their credit this season. “That’s the good news that we’ve been injury free,” said Beilein.
