Huskies Up Next For #2 Orange Saturday

Syracuse vs. Connecticut
Game Details	Saturday, Feb. 11 \| Syracuse, N.Y. \| 1 p.m. Carrier Dome \| Tickets
Game Coverage	TV: CBS \| Radio: WTKW 99.5 FM Orange All Access: Audio \| Live Stats Twitter: @suorangeempire
Syracuse Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule
Connecticut Links	Notes \| News \| Roster \| Schedule

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Rivalry week continues for No. 2/2 Syracuse when it hosts --/rv Connecticut on Saturday, Feb. 10. Tipoff in the Carrier Dome is set for 1 p.m. The Orange enters the contest with a 24-1 overall record and leads the BIG EAST with an 11-1 mark in conference games. The Huskies are 15-8 overall, 5-6 in the BIG EAST.

The game will be broadcast on CBS. Tickets for Saturday's game are available online, by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office. Fans can also follow the action on the Syracuse IMG Radio Network and its flagship TK99 (99.5 FM). The audio stream of the broadcast will be available on Orange All Access on SUathletics.com. Subscriptions to Orange All Access are available at daily, monthly and yearly rates.

JOSEPH HEATING UP
Senior Kris Joseph has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games and in 10 of the last 11 contests. He hit a career-high six three-point field goals and went 5-for-6 from the free throw line on his way to a career-best 29 points in Syracuse's overtime win against Georgetown. Joseph, the Orange's leading scorer this season, is averaging 15.6 points in SU's last seven games.

ORANGE IN THE NCAA STATISTICS
Syracuse continues to lead the nation in three categories. The Orange's .960 winning percentage is the best among Division I schools. In addition, SU ranks first in assist/turnover ratio (1.56) and turnover margin (6.9). The Orange also ranks third in scoring margin (17.3), blocked shots per game (7.3) and steals per game (10.1). Individually, sophomore Fab Melo ranks 13th in blocked shots per game (3.0).

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ORANGE
Syracuse needed an overtime session but held off Georgetown and kept its record perfect at home with a 64-61 victory on Wednesday, Feb. 8. The victory was the 880th for head coach Jim Boeheim, giving him sole possession of third place on the career coaching wins list.

After the Hoyas led 31-27 at halftime, Syracuse scored the first eight points of the second half and took a 35-31 advantage. Georgetown responded with the next six points to regain the lead with 14:32 to play in regulation. The game would be tied three more times before Syracuse went on a 6-0 run and took its largest lead of the contest at 54-48 with 4:37 on the clock. The Hoyas wouldn't go away and outscored SU 7-1 down the stretch to even the score at 55-55. Fab Melo blocked a shot on Georgetown's final possession of regulation, and Dion Waiters' three-point attempt with two seconds on the clock was no good, forcing an overtime session.

The lead went back and forth in the extra period and the teams were tied at 61-61 with 1:20 to play. Kris Joseph hit his sixth three-pointer of the game with 29 seconds remaining to give SU the lead for good. Scoop Jardine stole the ball on Georgetown's last possession as Syracuse recorded the 64-61 victory.

Joseph led the Orange with a career-high 29 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals. Melo finished with 11 points and six blocks, while #C.J. Fair# added five points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
Connecticut has posted a 15-8 overall record during the 2011-12 campaign, including a 5-6 mark in the BIG EAST. The Huskies, which are coming off an 80-59 loss against Louisville, have lost five of their last six games.

Sophomore guard Jeremy Lamb leads the Huskies and ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in scoring, averaging 17.2 points per game. He also averages 4.6 rebounds a game and had eight in the Huskies' latest win against Seton Hall. Shabazz Napier is contributing 13.1 points per game, while freshman guard Ryan Boatright, who tallied 18 points in the Huskies' loss to Louisville, is averaging 10.4 points per game. Andre Drummond is Connecticut's leading rebounder, grabbing 7.5 per game.

George Blaney is taking over the reins for head coach Jim Calhoun, who is on medical leave. In his two games this season leading the Huskies, Blaney is 1-1. Connecticut defeated Seton Hall 69-46 and lost to Louisville, 80-59.

SERIES HISTORY
Syracuse leads the all-time series with the Huskies, 51-36. Their last meeting was at Madison Square Garden last March in a BIG EAST tournament semifinal game. Connecticut defeated the Orange in overtime, 76-71, to advance to the finals. The Orange and the Huskies have played overtime games before, specifically a six-overtime game in the 2009 BIG EAST Tournament, which Syracuse won 127-117. Saturdy's game will be the 88th meeting between the two teams.

UP NEXT…
Syracuse will be back in action on Monday, Feb. 13 when it travels to Louisville, Ky. to take on the Cardinals at 7 p.m. The game is the first of two consecutive road games for the Orange.

Syracuse University Athletics

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