Syracuse University
University of South Florida
Orange on the Road Again Saturday at USF
2/4/2011 1:24:09 PM | Men's Basketball
| GAME #24 | ||
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vs. |  |
| Game Info | Saturday, February 5 | 2:00 p.m. | Game Notes | |
| Location | Tampa, Fla. | USF Sun Dome | |
| Game Day | ||
| TV/Radio |
BIG EAST Network | TK99 | espn3.com |
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TAMPA, Fla. – No. 17 Syracuse (19-4, 6-4) plays its third consecutive road game when it travels to Tampa, Fla. to take on USF (8-15, 2-8) on Saturday, February 5. Game time is set for 2 p.m. After defeating Connecticut on the road earlier this week, the Orange is now 6-2 in games played away from the Carrier Dome.
Fans can watch the game live on the BIG EAST Network 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.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Syracuse plays the third of three consecutive games on the road on Saturday. It is the Orange's longest stretch of road games this season. Overall, six of the Orange's final 10 regular-season games will be played on the road.
SYRACUSE TURNS UP THE “D”
The Orange held Connecticut to a season-low 58 points in its victory against the Huskies on Wednesday. That point total was nearly 17 points below UConn's season average of 74.8 points per game. Syracuse recorded 12 steals and blocked six shots. This season, the Orange is allowing 63.0 points per game, which ranks third in the BIG EAST. SU's opponents are shooting just 39.1 percent from the field, the second-lowest total in the league.
TRICHE CONTINUES TO SPARK ORANGE OFFENSE
Sophomore Brandon Triche led the Orange in its win at Connecticut with 16 points, tying his season high. It marked the 11th time in the last 14 games that Triche has reached double figures in scoring. During that stretch, he is averaging 12.1 points per game, increasing his season average to 10.5 points per contest.
KEITA SOLID OFF THE BENCH
Freshman Baye Moussa Keita produced one of his best overall performances this season at Connecticut. He pulled down 11 rebounds, helping Syracuse to a 45-39 advantage on the boards. In addition, Keita recorded a season-best six steals to go along with four points, two blocked shots and an assist. This season, Keita is averaging 2.7 points 4.2 rebounds per game.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ORANGE
Syracuse snapped its four-game losing streak with a 66-58 victory at Connecticut on Wednesday, February 2. The Orange fell behind early, but rallied, taking its first lead of the game on Scoop Jardine's basket right before the halftime buzzer.
Connecticut scored the first six points of the game and led by as many as nine, but six consecutive points by the Orange cut the Huskies' lead to one, 23-22, with less than two minutes to play in the first half. Trailing 25-24, Jardine hit a short jumper as time expired in the first half to give Syracuse a 26-25 halftime advantage.
The Orange opened the second half with 10-4 run and led 36-29 with 16 minutes remaining. The Huskies responded with a 7-0 scoring run, tying the game at 36-36. The Orange regained the lead and led 51-45 with seven minutes remaining. Freshman Dion Waiters provided a boost off the bench, scoring five points during that stretch. Connecticut rallied and cut the lead to one, 61-58, with 51 seconds left on the clock, but Jardine went 3-for-4 from the charity stripe to secure Syracuse's first win since January 15.
Three players scored in double figures for the Orange, led by sophomore Brandon Triche's 16 points. Senior Rick Jackson added 13 points, while Kris Joseph finished with 11 points. Jackson pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds, helping Syracuse to a 45-39 advantage on the boards. It marked Jackson's 15th double-double of the season and 22nd of his career.
The Orange defense recorded 12 steals and six blocked shots and held the nation's third-leading scorer, Kemba Walker, to eight points. He had been averaging 24.2 points per game.
SCOUTING USF
The Bulls enter Saturday's game with a 2-9 record in their last 11 games. In its last contest, USF lost at Providence, 68-63.
Two players are averaging double figures in scoring for the Bulls. Augustus Gilchrist leads the team with a 12.9 points per game average, while Jawanza Poland is scoring 10.3 points per contest. Ron Anderson Jr. is USF's leading rebounder, averaging 7.1 per game.
Stan Heath is in his fourth year as head coach of the Bulls. During his tenure, he has guided USF to an overall record of 49-69. Previously, Heath served as head coach at Kent State for one season before taking over the helm of the Arkansas program from 2002-2007.
THE SERIES
Syracuse leads the all-time series with USF, 7-1. The teams first met during the 1987-88 season. After playing again in 2001-02, the two squads have met every year since the 2005-06 campaign. The Orange won the first five meetings against USF before the Bulls posted their only victory in the series, a 89-78 win, in 2007-08 in Tampa. The Orange has defeated USF the past two seasons, including an 82-65 win last season in the Carrier Dome.
UP NEXT…
The Orange returns to the Carrier Dome on Wednesday, February 9 to host BIG EAST rival Georgetown at 7 p.m. Tickets for Wednesday's game are available online, by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) or at the Carrier Dome Box Office located at Gate B.
