#11 Georgetown Hoyas at #2 Syracuse Orange
Carrier Dome – Syracuse, New York
Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 7:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN
Opening Line: Syracuse -9 1/2
Current Line: Syracuse -8 1/2
Opening Total: 130 1/2
Current Total: 130
Opening Money Line: Syracuse -540 / Georgetown +420
Current Money Line: Syracuse -450 / Georgetown +350
The 23-1 Syracuse Orange are #2 in the country in both polls and are in first place in the Big East with a 10-1 record. The Orange have a game and a half lead over Marquette as they take on rival Georgetown Wednesday night. The Hoyas are 18-4 this season and 8-3 in the conference, a half game behind Marquette and a half game ahead of Notre Dame. A Syracuse win tonight would solidify them as the best team in the conference, while a Georgetown win would leave Syracuse with only a one game lead in the Big East.
Georgetown has won 5 of the last 6 games, including 2 in a row. The Hoyas destroyed South Florida at home Saturday 75-45. Syracuse has won 3 games in a row since a 67-58 loss at Notre Dame last month. The Orange won at St. John’s Saturday 95-70. Syracuse leads the overall series against Georgetown 47-39, including 30-11 in Syracuse. Georgetown has won 2 of the last 3 meetings. The teams split the season series last year with each winning on the other’s home court. This is the only scheduled meeting between the two schools this season unless they meet in the Big East or NCAA tournaments.
Georgetown is coached by John Thompson III. The Hoyas have losses to Kansas, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh. Georgetown has wins over Memphis twice, Alabama, Louisville, Providence, Marquette, St. John’s, DePaul, Rutgers, and UConn.
Syracuse is coached Jim Boeheim. The Orange have wins over Virginia Tech, Stanford, Eastern Michigan, Florida, Marshall, George Washington, NC State, Tulane, Seton Hall, DePaul, Providence twice, Marquette, Villanova, Pitt, Cincinnati, and West Virginia.
Georgetown is outscoring opponents 71-59 this season. The Hoyas are shooting 47% from the field, including 36.4% from 3 point range. Georgetown makes 70.5% of their free throws. The Hoyas average 35.8 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +4.9. Georgetown averages 13.9 assists, 12.8 turnovers, 6.9 steals, and 4.8 blocks a game. Hoya opponents are shooting 39.0% from the field, including 27.6% from 3 point range. The Hoyas are in the top 20 nationally in defensive scoring, and opponent’s field goal and 3 point percentages. Georgetown forces 14.5 turnovers a game.
Georgetown guard Jason Clark averages 15.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.8 steals a game. He leads the team in scoring and steals, and shoots 35.1% from 3 point range. Hollis Thompson averages 13.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He makes 48.4% of his three point attempts. Henry Sims averages 11.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.6 blocks a game. He leads the team in assists and blocks. Otto Porter averages 8.4 points, 6.6 rebounds to lead the team, 1.6 assists, and 1.2 steals a game. Markel Starks averages 8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists a game. He is shooting 41.2% from 3 point range. Reserve center Tyler Adams is out indefinitely with a heart condition.
Syracuse is outscoring opponents 78-61 this season. The Orange are shooting 48.3% from the field including 34.4% on 3 point shots. Syracuse is in the top 25 nationally in both scoring and field goal percentage. Syracuse makes 69.8% of their free throws. The Orange average 35.8 rebounds a game and have a rebounding margin of +0.2. Syracuse averages 16.8 assists, 10.8 turnovers, 10.1 steals, and 7.3 blocks a game. Orange opponents shoot 38.5% from the field, including 32% from 3 point range. Syracuse is #12 in opponents’ field goal percentage. Syracuse forces 17.7 turnovers a game.
Syracuse forward Kris Joseph averages 13.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals a game. He is the leading scorer for the Orange and is shooting 33.7% from 3 point range. Dion Waiters averages 12.3 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.2 steals a game to lead the team. He makes 35.3% of his three point shots. Brandon Triche averages 10 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.3 steals a game. He is shooting 38.3% from 3 point range. C.J. Fair averages 8.5 points and 5 rebounds. Scoop Jardine averages 8.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists to lead the team, and 1.4 steals a game. James Southerland averages 7.6 points, and 3.3 rebounds a game. Fab Melo leads the team in rebounds with 5.5 and blocks with 3 a game. He missed 3 games due to being suspended for violating team rules including the Notre Dame loss, and narrow wins over West Virginia and Cincinnati. Melo returned to the line-up in the last game against St. John’s
Syracuse is 15-8 ATS and the total is 10-12-1 this season. Georgetown is 9-7 ATS and the total is 8-8 this season. Syracuse is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 against Georgetown. The Hoyas are 13-3 ATS after a straight up win of 20 points or more, 5-2 after allowing less than 50 points, 5-2 after a cover, 3-7 overall, 4-13 in Big East games, 2-7 against teams with winning records, and 1-6 after a straight up win. The Orange are 4-0 ATS in Wednesday games, 11-2 after scoring 90 points or more, 6-2 after a straight up win of more than 20 points, and 1-5 at home against teams with winning road records.
With Melo in the line-up Syracuse is one of the best teams in the country and is a legitimate threat to win it all. I think the Orange will take care of business at home, but the Hoyas could keep it closer than the 8 1/2 point spread.
