.png)
Tuesday, December 22
Syracuse, NY
7:00 p.m.
Syracuse University
vs
Oakland University
Andy Rautins is one of six Orange players in double figures.
Hoops For The Holidays: Orange Hosts Oakland Tuesday
12/21/2009 2:23:01 PM | Men's Basketball
Tickets | Live audio/video | Live Stats | Game Notes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The #5/5 Orange (11-0) closes out a three-game homestand on Tuesday, Dec. 22 when it hosts Oakland (6-6) at 7 p.m. in the Carrier Dome. The game is the second half of a split men's and women's home basketball doubleheader. The undefeated and 22nd-ranked Orange women will face Delaware State at 2 p.m. Syracuse and Kentucky are the only Division I schools with unbeaten men's and women's programs.
Tickets for both games are available online, by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office. The men's matchup with Oakland will be televised live in the Syracuse area on Time Warner Sports. Fans can also listen to the men's game live via the Syracuse ISP Radio Network and its flagship TK 99 (99.5 FM). The video and audio streams of the broadcasts will be available on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All-Access.
ABOUT THE ORANGE
Syracuse continued to roll through the non-conference portion of its schedule, posting an 85-72 win against St. Bonaventure on Saturday. Junior forward Rick Jackson led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds to record his second double-double in the last three games. Junior Wes Johnson also had a double-double against the Bonnies, scoring 17 points and hauling in 10 boards.
Overall, Syracuse boasts six double-digit scorers. In addition to Jackson (10.5 ppg) and Johnson (16.5 ppg), senior Andy Rautins (10.2 ppg), sophomore Kris Joseph (10.2 ppg) and freshman Brandon Triche (10.1 ppg) are also averaging double figures. Joseph became the latest to join the club. He netted a personal-best 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting against St. Bonaventure to elevate himself into double digits.
Syracuse's balance has been the key to an offense that leads the BIG EAST in scoring average (88.0 ppg).
SUPER STARTS
The Orange is one of eight remaining unbeatens in Division I men's basketball and one of two BIG EAST squads without a loss. West Virginia is also undefeated with a record of 8-0. If the Orange defeats Oakland it would mark the seventh time in the Jim Boeheim Era that the team started at least 12-0. It's most recent 12-0 start was in 1999-2000. Boeheim's clubs also started 12-0 in 1990-91, 1988-89, 1986-87, 1985-86 and 1979-80.
SCOUTING OAKLAND
Oakland is a member of the Summit League and comes into Tuesday night's affair with a 6-6 overall record and a 1-0 mark in conference play. The Golden Grizzlies had won two straight games before losing at Oregon, 72-60, on Dec. 19.
Junior center Keith Benson has been an offensive force in the early going. He is averaging a double-double with 17.7 points and 11.1 rebounds per game and leads the team in both categories. Benson paced the Golden Grizzlies with 14 points in their loss to Oregon.
Senior guard Johnathon Jones (12.3 ppg) and senior forward Derick Nelson (11.4 ppg) are also in averaging double digits. Jones is averaging 5.1 assists per game and leads the club with 25 steals. Junior guard Larry Wright (9.5 ppg) and junior forward Will Hudson (5.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg) round out Oakland's starting five. Wright has not missed a free throw this season. He is 24-for-24 from the charity stripe.
THE SERIES
Tuesday will be the second meeting between the Orange and Golden Grizzlies. Syracuse handed Oakland an 86-66 defeat last season.
ACC Tipoff Recap
Wednesday, October 08
ACC Tipoff | Freeman & Starling
Tuesday, October 07
ACC Tipoff | Adrian Autry on ACCN
Tuesday, October 07
ACC Tipoff | Press Conference
Tuesday, October 07
