That's More Like it!

There is the Syracuse team that fans have been waiting all year to see! The Orange played with a purpose from the opening tip and never slowed up. The three seniors for the Orange, Nichols, Roberts, and Watkins, played with a purpose in their last game ever at the dome. Controlling Green and Hibbert inside was a big key to this game going in and the two big men for Syracuse did just that!

Another well balanced attack by the 'Cuse was the difference. Led by 22 points from the Big East player of the year...well at least in my opinion...Demetrius Nichols, 13 points from Andy 'Handy' Rautins, 11 points and a career high 11 assits from Eric 'Sparadic' Devendorf, and then 11 points and 6 rebounds from Paul 'The Bear' Harris this team was well balanced on both ends. Throw in the combined 15 points and 14 rebounds from Mookie and TRob and this team had one of its most balanced games of the year.

The difference in this game was the battle between one of the best shooting teams (at least field goal percentage wise) in the country, in the Hoyas, and one of the best field goal percentage defensive teams in the country in Syracuse. Which one would pervail? Was the question asked all night long by the announcers. I think the answer to this question was clear! The defense played by the Orange was tremendous! They were after every loose ball, crashing the boards, stepping in the lane, and on and on. This team played with a purpose and would not be denied that signature win they so desperately needed.

Now, with a win at Villanova on Saturday, the Orange can clinch at least a tie for fourth in the conference. The tie breaker would go to Notre Dame due to the head-to-head win against Syracuse. With a loss at Villanova Syracuse is still guaranteed the 5 seed and the 5-12 matchup with St. Johns most likely and then the matchup with Notre Dame in the quarters. So, this win was big on both fronts...a loss dropped them into a three way tie for fifth with one to play. Now, even if they lose on Saturday they are still guaranteed the 5 seed because of the tie breaker scenarios they would win with Marquette and West Virginia. A win on Saturday and a loss by Notre Dame at Rutgers and Syracuse pulls the impossible and gets the 4 seed!

Another thing worth a mention in this game is the play of Eric 'Sparadic' Devendorf as I call him. Some people say that he should not be running the point that maybe Paul Harris or Josh Wright should be running the point. Well, I would just like to say that this team will win or lose with Eric running the show! He is by far our best option at the point. He had 11 assists in last nights game...yes he did have 5 turnovers...but that is still more than a 2:1 assist:turnover ratio! Paul Harris is probably the best one on one player Syracuse has, but he is not the best man to run the point. Eric can use his left better than anyone I have seen and he also gets blocked more than anyone I have seen. However, he does so many things right that you have to live with the mistakes he makes. He will make three or four great plays and then come down and make a terrible play, but without him running the point, we don't get that 3:1 ratio! Let Harris post up the smaller guard inside and let Devo find the shooters. Keep in mind he is only a sophmore and is not a "true point guard." He is more of a 2 guard trying to fill a void that the Orange need him for. He is getting much better at this roll and once he becomes just a little bit less selfish...he has a scorers' mentality...this team will be doing great things! Devo is the best option at point and the best chance this team has of going somewhere in the post season!

Stats from the game:

Scoring:
Nichols: 22...Rautins: 13...Devo: 11...Harris: 11...Watkins: 9...Roberts: 6

Rebounds:
Watkins: 8...Roberts: 6...Harris: 6...Nichols and Rautins: 3...Devo...2...Burach and Gorman: 1

Assists:
Devo: 11...Watkins: 3...Nichols and Rautins: 1

Turnovers:
Devo: 5...Wright (in only 3 minutes), Harris, Rautins: 2...Nichols and Roberts: 1

Steals:
Nichols: 4...Roberts and Rautins: 2...Harris and Devo: 1

Blocks:
Watkins: 2...Nichols and Roberts: 1

Syracuse shot 43% from 3

Great win!

GO 'CUSE!!