Packed House Saturday
February 07, 2003 11:02 AM | General
February 7, 2003
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – There won’t be many blue seats to look at in the Coliseum Saturday afternoon when West Virginia battles No. 19-rated Syracuse at 4 p.m.
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| Coach John Beilein talks with freshman center Kevin Pittsnogle during West Virginia's win over Rutgers on Sunday, Jan. 29. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
That’s because the Mountaineer Ticket Office announced Tuesday afternoon that the game is a sell out. It is the first advance sell-out for a West Virginia home basketball game since Boston College on March 3, 2001, to end the 2000-01 regular season.
The “Beehive” should be buzzing Saturday.
Entering the “Hive” is a 15-3 Syracuse team that has won two straight after a surprising 68-65 loss at Rutgers on Jan. 29.
In successive games the Orangemen have downed Pitt and Georgetown at the Carrier Dome to move into a tie with Notre Dame for second place in the West division with a 6-2 record.
“They’re the type of teams that drive us crazy because they’re so long,” said West Virginia coach John Beilein. “They can be physical too but they’re more athletic and long and they guard you even when you think you’re not being guarded. You’ll be attacking that zone and you think you will have time and space to shoot and then all of the sudden they’re on you.”
Six-eight, 220-pound forward Carmelo Anthony is one of the most recognized freshmen in the country, averaging 20.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game to lead the Orangmen.
Pencil-thin 6-foot-8 forward Hakim Warrick is one of the league’s most improved players, turning his 6.1-points-per-game average last year as a freshman into a 16.1-points-per-game average this year. The Philadelphia native is also grabbing 8.9 rebounds per game.
Seven-foot center Craig Forth anchors the middle with an average of 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, while the backcourt is made up of 6-6 senior Kueth Duany and super 6-2 freshman point guard Gerry McNamara.
McNamara has started all 18 games and is averaging 14.8 points and 4.7 assists per game. He leads Syracuse from behind the three-point arc by making 36.8 percent of his three-point attempts.
Duany, one of just two returning starters from last year’s team, is averaging 12.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
“They’re a good team right now and they are just going to get better and better,” said Beilein.
Syracuse has been unbeatable at home, piling up a 13-0 record at the Carrier Dome so far this season. However, all three of Syracuse’s losses this year have come on the road and the Orangemen are just 2-3 away from their giant air conditioner.
West Virginia has also had some success against Syracuse in the Coliseum, winning three times since the Mountaineers joined the league during the 1995-96 season.
West Virginia has had a week off to get ready for Syracuse’s pesky 2-3 zone.
“They’ve been known for that zone defense but when they plan man, they play that well too so we have to be prepared for both as well as his pressing game,” said Beilein.
Beilein says Syracuse’s zone defense is so effective because it is a bit unusual.
“To me it’s more of a gap zone that people played before the three-point shot,” said Beilein. “They have people run at you from different angles, which makes it very difficult. As a result people aren’t comfortable playing against it.
“What they’re also good at is rebounding out of it,” he added. “You don’t get many second shots. They’re also averaging 9 steals a game without pressing. They’re long arms get enough steals in the zone.”
The Mountaineers (12-7, 2-3) last played at Villanova on Saturday, Feb. 1, defeating the Wildcats 91-83 in one of the best all-around performances of the season.
Sophomore Drew Schifino scored 31 points and Tyrone Sally added 19 to help the Mountaineers bag their first Big East road win in nearly two and half years. West Virginia made 20 of 23 free throws in the second half and finished the game making 35 of 42.
Schifino is the team’s top scorer averaging 21.1 points per game. Freshman Kevin Pittsnogle was held to just 2 points at Villanova but is still averaging 12.3 points per game.
Sally is also closing in on double figures at 9.7 points per game.
MSN’s radio coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. The game will also be televised on ESPN Regional and is available on ESPN’s Full Court package.
