Is it possible a team ranked in the top 5 preseason might not even make the tournament? <\/p>\n
Saturday February 11 Connecticut<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0Well the Connecticut Huskies seem determined to test that theory as they stumble through Big East play. \u00a0Nothing has really gone according to plan for last year\u2019s champs; they have had coaching issues, eligibility concerns and flat out stunk some nights (recent games where they couldn\u2019t even break 50 points). \u00a0They have lost 5 of their last 6 and are headed to the Carrier Dome to face the one loss Orange on Saturday. \u00a0Not exactly the easiest place to get a victory.<\/p>\n At least the talent is still there. \u00a0I am a big fan of guard Jeremy Lamb and from what I have seen of power post Andre Drummond, he is very impressive. \u00a0It sort of seems like this team is sleepwalking, perhaps assuming that others would just get out of their way so they could repeat. \u00a0Last year it took a while for them to develop their killer instinct so perhaps that is going to be the case this year as well. \u00a0Not a single player that was on the roster from last year has improved his game this year. \u00a0Coaching or players? I am not sure.<\/p>\n Syracuse<\/strong><\/p>\n There is not a lot to complain about in upstate New York these days. [soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n \u00a0Sure the Orange lost a game knocking them from the top of the rankings but now that center Fab Melo is back in the lineup things seem to be getting back to normal. \u00a0Is it possible he is the most indispensable player in the nation? \u00a0That is a pretty lofty spot for a player who, while improved, is hardly living up to his recruiting expectations.<\/p>\n You can praise Melo all you want for his role in the middle of that 2-3 zone defense but the reason I like the Orange is the guard trio of Brandon Triche, Scoop Jardine and Dion Waiters. \u00a0Waiters has improved so much in his sophomore year and is second on the club in scoring. \u00a0<\/p>\n He is most likely the 6th man of the year in college hoops providing both energy and production off the bench. \u00a0Jardine\u2019s and Triche\u2019s numbers don\u2019t jump off the page but that is in part because they don\u2019t log heavy minutes. <\/p>\n \u00a0They are a steady combo that can get things done and this team won\u2019t go far without them.<\/p>\n
\nCarrier Dome – Syracuse, NY
\n1:00PM
\nMoneyline: No money line currently listed
\nSpread: \u00a0Syracuse -11
\nO\/U: 132<\/strong><\/p>\n