BIG EAST GAME PREVIEW: DePaul @ Syracuse

February 3, 2007


For Syracuse and it's fans, I truly hope for their sake Tuesday night at the Carrier Dome was rock-bottom as the Orange were thrashed by an under-manned Notre Dame team. The final of 103-91 was not indicative of how bad of a beating it was. Trailing 83-57 with under 8 minutes left, nobody was safe from the Carrier Dome wrath as the Orange cheerleaders were booed for trying to invoke a crowd cheer.

Once again, we watch to see what DePaul will do after a little bit of success. I have not seen a team look to brim with so much bravado with a little taste of success and they were looking like kings as they jetted out to a 20-pt early 2nd half lead over Connecticut. Of course, that lead was nearly short-lived as UConn cut it to 3 in the last minute, but DePaul got it done. Where will they go next?

Last season these two teams met in Chicago and it was DePaul who was embarrasing the Orange, winning 108-69, and coming off their loss to Notre Dame, I am sure that score has been brought to the attention of the Orange in preparation for the Blue Demons. I can only imagine Syracuse to come out with a renewed hunger to defend and rebound. With three seniors in their starting line-up, they are running out of time in leaving their mark on the successful Syracuse program. Each team is full of very good athletes that also get inconsistent guard play. At DePaul, things have looked up with Jabari Currie, at Syracuse, not much has improved with Josh Wright.

With each team still holding some hope for a 2nd half Big East run, I can't see Syracuse sinking lower...yet. I think they pull together with an effort that comes up with a win, similar to their effort against Villanova at home not too long ago.

NBE Blogger Prediction: Syracuse 73 DePaul 64