Syracuse University
University of Pittsburgh
Top Five Teams Clash in Big Monday Showdown
1/16/2011 12:35:05 PM | Men's Basketball
| GAME #19 | ||
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vs. |  |
| Game Info | Monday, January 17 | 7:30 p.m. | Game Notes | |
| Location | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Peterson Events Center | |
| Game Day | ||
| TV/Radio |
ESPN | TK99 | espn3.com |
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PITTSBURGH, Pa. – No. 3/3 Syracuse tries to equal the best start in school history when it goes on the road to face No. 5/4 Pittsburgh on Monday, January 18 at 7:30 p.m. The game is part of ESPN's Big Monday lineup. The Orange enters the contest with an 18-0 overall record and a 5-0 mark in BIG EAST play. The Panthers are 17-1 overall, 5-0 in conference action.
The Orange received first-place votes in the national polls for the first time this season on Monday, Syracuse earned eight first-place nods in the Associated Press Poll and one in the ESPN/USA Today Poll.
Syracuse is one win away from matching the 1999-2000 squad for the best start since the program began in 1900-01. That year, the Orange began the season with 19 consecutive victories before suffering its first loss on Feb. 7 at Seton Hall. Syracuse claimed the BIG EAST regular-season title that season and advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament where it lost to eventual national champion Michigan State.
Fans can watch the game live on ESPN or listen to the action via the Syracuse Sports Network and its flagship TK99 (99.5 FM). The audio stream of the radio broadcast will be available on SUathletics.com as part of Orange All Access. Subscriptions to Orange All Access are available at daily, monthly and yearly rates.
ORANGE REMAINS IN ELITE COMPANY
Only four Division I teams remain unbeaten this season. Syracuse is joined in the elite group by No. 2/1 Ohio State, No. 3/2 Kansas and No. 6/6 San Diego State. All four teams recorded wins on Saturday. The Orange beat Cincinnati, while Ohio State defeated Penn State, 69-66. Kansas posted a 63-60 win against Nebraska, and San Diego State won at New Mexico, 87-77.
JACKSON'S OVERALL PERFORMANCE LEADS THE ORANGE
Senior Rick Jackson's solid all-around game against Cincinnati led Syracuse to its 18th consecutive victory. Jackson was 7-for-8 from the field on his way to a team-high 15 points. He also pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds, including 10 on the defensive end, for his 11th double-double of the season and 18th of his career. In addition, Jackson dished out three assists, blocked two shots and had one steal.
This season, Jackson leads the BIG EAST and ranks fourth in the nation in rebounding, averaging 11.7 per contest. He also ranks first in the league and 11th nationally in field goal percentage (.589). His 8.2 defensive rebounds per game is tops in the league, while his 3.6 offensive rebounds per contest is second. Jackson also is tied for fourth in the conference in blocked shots (2.2 per game).
SUPPORTING CAST SPARKS THE ORANGE
Syracuse's bench accounted for 22 points or 32.8 percent of the Orange's offensive production against Cincinnati. Sophomore James Southerland saw significant playing time after an injury to junior Kris Joseph. Southerland responded by going 3-for-4 from the floor, including 2-for-2 from three-point range, for eight points. He also pulled down eight rebounds to go along with an assist, a blocked shot and one steal.
Freshman Dion Waiters also had eight points and two steals, while fellow freshman #C.J. Fair# added four points and an assist. One of Fair's baskets came just before the buzzer to end the first half, which gave SU a 35-31 halftime lead. In addition, freshman Baye Moussa Keita had two points and tied his career high with three blocked shots.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ORANGE
Syracuse remained undefeated with a 67-52 victory against No. 25/rv Cincinnati on Saturday, January 15. A crowd of 24,338 was on hand in the Carrier Dome for the victory. It represented the largest on-campus crowd in college basketball this season.
The Orange opened the scoring with nine unanswered points through the first 3:44, while holding Cincinnati without a field goal attempt through the first 2:15. SU built its lead to 15, 18-3, at the 8:48 mark. The Bearcats netted seven three-pointers to cut the deficit to 29-25 with 3:34 remaining, before sophomore Brandon Triche hit back-to-back baskets to increase the Orange's lead to 33-25. Dion Dixon converted two three-point attempts to bring the Bearcats within two, but freshman #C.J. Fair# added a basket with two seconds to go before the break to give Syracuse a 35-31 halftime lead.
The Orange defense started the second half much the same way it did the first, holding Cincinnati scoreless through the first 7:15 while building its lead with 16 unanswered points. Triche and sophomore James Southerland each had five points during the run, while freshman Fab Melo added four.
Trailing 55-37, the Bearcats used a 9-2 scoring run to cut SU's lead to 57-46, with 6:30 on the clock. The Orange answered with five straight points and went on to the 15-point victory.
Senior Rick Jackson led the Orange with 15 points and 10 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the season. Triche and junior Scoop Jardine each added 11 points.
SCOUTING PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh enters Monday's game on a seven-game winning streak, which has improved its record to 17-1. Its only loss this season was an 83-76 setback against Tennessee in the SEC/BIG EAST Invitational in early December.
The Panthers are the second-highest scoring team in the BIG EAST, averaging 80.3 points per contest, while they allow just 62.0 points per contest, the fourth-best total in the league. Three players are averaging double figures in scoring, led by junior Ashton Gibbs' 16.3 points per game. He is Pitt's biggest outside threat, averaging a league-best 3.2 three-pointers per game. Senior Brad Wanamaker contributes 12.8 points per contest and directs the Panthers' offense, leading the team with 96 assists. Gilbert Brown is posting 11.2 points per game in his final season at Pitt. Senior Gary McGhee plays the middle for the Panthers. He leads the team in rebounds (7.4) and blocked shots (1.4).
Jamie Dixon is in his eighth year as head coach at Pittsburgh. Since taking over the helm of the program, Dixon has guided the Panthers to a record of 205-55 (.788). Pittsburgh has been to the NCAA Tournament in each of his seven seasons, including a trip to the Elite Eight in 2008-09.
Prior to being named head coach, Dixon served as an assistant for the Panthers for four years. He has also served as an assistant coach at Hawaii, Northern Arizona and UC-Santa Barbara.
THE SERIES
Monday's game will be the 99th all-time meeting between Syracuse and Pittsburgh on the hardwood. The Orange owns a 61-37 advantage in the series.
The Panthers have won the last four meetings with Syracuse and 12 of the last 15, dating back to the 2000-01 season. The Orange's last win against Pittsburgh was a 65-61 victory in the championship game of the 2006 BIG EAST Tournament. The last time Syracuse won on the Panthers' home court was during the 2003-04 campaign when SU posted a 49-46 overtime win. The Orange owns the longest winning streak in the series that began in 1913-14. Syracuse won 10 consecutive meetings between 1991-92 and 1995-96.
UP NEXT…
Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome to face another top20 team. The Orange hosts No. 7/7 Villanova at noon on Saturday, January 22.
