Top 10 Test at Villanova on Jan. 21
1/20/2006 10:37:59 AM | Men's Basketball
VILLANOVA, PA. -- No. 20/20 Syracuse (15-3, 3-1 BIG EAST) plays its third-straight game against a ranked opponent and second-consecutive contest against a team ranked in the Top 10 when it travels to No. 8/7 Villanova (12-2, 3-1 BIG EAST) on Jan. 21, for a 6:05 p.m. tip-off against the Wildcats. ESPN will televise the game LIVE from the Wachovia Center.
The Syracuse ISP Radio Network will carry its broadcast on WAQX-95.7 FM and WNSS 1260 AM in Syracuse. Fans can tune in via the internet right here at www.suathletics.com. In addition, SIRIUS Satellite Radio will provide a broadcast of the game on channel 123.
The Orange recently had a 12-game winning streak snapped by No. 3-ranked Connecticut, 88-80, at the Carrier Dome on Jan. 16. The loss to the Huskies is SU's lone setback in conference action, while its three league wins have come against USF (63-57), Notre Dame (88-82) and Cincinnati (77-58). The Bearcats were ranked No. 25 in the Associated Press poll at the time the two teams met.
Senior guard Gerry McNamara is leading the team with 17.6 points per game and 6.3 assists per outing. In BIG EAST games, McNamara is averaging a squad-best 20.0 ppg and 4.25 apg. Currently tied for third on the school's career steals list (230), he needs six more thefts to move into second place, ahead of Sherman Douglas.
SU is 8-0 this season when McNamara leads the team in scoring. He owns the nation's longest consecutive starts streak (118). His 14 points versus Connecticut moved him into 10th place on Syracuse's all-time scoring list (1,856 points). He is looking to become just the sixth Orange basketball player to tally 2,000 career points and has a chance to break the BIG EAST Conference record for career three pointers made, if he can manage 24 more three-point field goals before the season ends.
The Orange has benefited this season from the improved play of junior forward Demetris Nichols (16.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg). Terrence Roberts (11.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg) and freshman guard Eric Devendorf (10.5 ppg) have also stepped up at times.
Villanova won its first 10 games, including an 85-74 victory against then No. 5-ranked Oklahoma on Dec. 3, and a 76-67 win at No. 9-ranked Louisville to start BIG EAST Conference play on Jan. 5. Since then, the Wildcats are 2-2 in their last four games, with wins at Rutgers (84-78 OT) and home against Seton Hall (73-64) and losses to West Virginia (91-87) and on the road at Texas (58-55).
Randy Foye leads four Wildcats in double-digit scoring average with his 20.5 ppg. He shoots the ball better than 45 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line and he is also averaging 5.4 rebounds per game.
Allan Ray is second in scoring with 18.1 ppg. He has made a team-high 47 three pointers. Mike Nardi is third in scoring with 11.9 ppg, while Kyle Lowry averages 11.4 ppg and a team-best 4.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
