Syracuse University
University of Cincinnati
'Cuse Visits 'Cats On Super Sunday
2/5/2010 3:03:47 PM | Men's Basketball
Live Stats | Live audio | Game Notes
CINCINNATI - Off to the best start in program history, #3/4 Syracuse (22-1, 9-1) travels to Cincinnati to face the Bearcats (14-8, 5-5) in a BIG EAST Conference game on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. The Orange has won nine straight games, including eight consecutive league contests, since losing to Pittsburgh on Jan 2.
The game will be televised live on the BIG EAST Network. Fans can also listen to the action via the Syracuse ISP Radio Network and its flagship TK 99 (99.5 FM). The audio stream of the radio broadcast will be available on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All-Access.
ABOUT THE ORANGE
Syracuse improved to 22-1 with an 85-68 win against Providence on Tuesday. All seven players that entered the game for the Orange scored, including three in double-digits. Sophomore Kris Joseph and senior Arinze Onuaku led the way with 23 and 20 points, respectively. Freshman Brandon Triche rounded out the double-figure scorers with 15 points. He also had three rebounds and four assists.
Syracuse used a 22-5 run at the start of the second half to break open a 37-34 game at the half.
The Orange is currently second in the BIG EAST standings with a 9-1 conference mark. Second-ranked Villanova holds the league's top spot at 9-0 in the conference.
JOSEPH NETS CAREER-BEST
Joseph's 23 points in the Providence win were a career high. He was 9-of-11 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. He also had a team best seven rebounds and contributed four steals.
Joseph is averaging 16.8 points and 32.8 minutes played off the bench in SU's last four games. He is 24-for-40 (.600) from the field during the stretch. He is the team's second-leading at 11.0 points per game.
ONUAKU HAS BEST GAME OF THE YEAR
Onuaku's 20 points against the Friars were two points shy of his career best and represented his top scoring effort this season. In addition, he secured seven rebounds and tied his career best with four blocks.
Onuaku is the BIG EAST leader in field-goal percentage (.686, 107-156) and he is on pace to shatter the school season record of 66.7 percent that he established a year ago. He also climbed a spot on SU's career scoring list with the performance. Onuaku passed James Williams and now ranks 45th all-time with 1,133.
SCOUTING CINCINNATI
The Bearcats lost to Notre Dame, 83-65, on the road on Thursday to fall to 14-8 on the season and 5-5 in the BIG EAST.
Cincinnati has been especially tough at Fifth Third Arena, forging an 11-1 home mark this season. The Bearcats only home loss was to Pittsburgh, 74-71, on Jan. 4. That game was right after the Panthers handed SU its only loss of the campaign.
The Bearcats feature BIG EAST Rookie of the Year candidate Lance Stephenson (12.0 ppg., 5.1 rpg.) and senior guard Deonta Vaughn (11.9 ppg., 3.6 apg.). A third double-digit scoring threat is sophomore forward Yancy Gates (10.5 ppg., 6.6 rpg.).
Sophomore guard Cashmere Wright has emerged as a strong backcourt pairing with Vaughn. Wright had 24 points in last Saturday's win against Providence.
Coach Mick Cronin is in his fourth season as Cincinnati head coach. He has a 56-60 overall record at the helm.
THE SERIES
Syracuse leads the all-time series with Cincinnati, 4-2. All six meetings have come since the 2005-06 campaign when the BEARCATS joined the BIG EAST. The Orange won last year's game in the Carrier Dome, 87-63. The most recent pairing between the two clubs in Cincinnati, in 2007-08, resulted in a 74-66 Bearcat victory.
