Syracuse, NY (Sports Network) - The eighth-ranked Syracuse Orange put the
nation's longest homecourt winning streak on the line on Wednesday night, as
they welcome the Providence Friars to the Carrier Dome for Big East action.
Jim Boeheim's Orange are currently among the top teams in the Big East with a
solid 9-3 league ledger. Syracuse has kept pace atop the conference standings
with wins in three of the last four games and enters this contest following a
76-65 road win at Seton Hall. The Orange are a perfect 15-0 at home this
season and have won 37 straight at the Carrier Dome overall.
Ed Cooley's Friars will attempt to end Syracuse's successful run and come into
this contest playing their best basketball of the season. Providence has won
four straight games to move to 6-7 in-conference and two of those wins have
come against ranked opponents in Cincinnati and most recently, Notre Dame
(71-54).
Syracuse holds a 47-10 advantage in the all-time series with Providence and is
20-3 all-time in games played at home in this series. The Orange are seeking
the regular-season sweep after earning a 72-66 win at the Dunkin' Donuts
Center back on Jan. 9.
The Friars are not an explosive offensive team collectively, but they do boast
of the Big East's top scorer in junior guard Bryce Cotton, who is averaging
20.4 ppg (12th nationally). Cotton also ranks among the nation's top-10 in
terms of 3-pointers made at 3.2 per game (73 total). Forwards Kadeem Batts
(14.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and LaDontae Henton (13.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg) give the team a
pair of valuable frontcourt performers. Senior Vincent Council (9.5 ppg, 7.3
apg) is a stabilizing force at the point.
The Friars posted their fourth straight conference win with the victory over
Notre Dame on Saturday, marking the first time the team has won that many
consecutive Big East tilts since the 2003-04 campaign. Batts led the way
offensively with 20 points. Cotton was right behind with 19 points, while
Henton posted 13. Council managed just seven points, but completed a double-
double nonetheless, with 11 rebounds and 11 assists. In the process, Council
became the school's all-time leader in assists with 671 for his career.
Brandon Triche netted a career-high 29 points, leading the Orange to a come-
from-behind win at Seton Hall this past weekend. Triche, who was 10-of-18 from
the floor in the game, got plenty of offensive support, as C.J. Fair poured in
19 points, followed by Michael Carter-Williams and James Southerland, who
finished with 14 and 11 points, respectively. Fair dominated on the glass as
well, completing a double-double with 11 rebounds.
The Orange have been at their best when they allow their defensive play to
dictate the tempo of the game. Syracuse is allowing just 59.3 ppg on the year
(30th nationally), on a mere .371 shooting by the opposition (fifth
nationally). Offensively, Syracuse nets a healthy 74.8 ppg, thanks to scoring
depth that features four players currently averaging double-figure scoring.
Triche leads the way with his 14.9 ppg. Fair is a close second at 14.0 ppg and
is the team's top rebounder (7.2 rpg). Southerland is a valuable asset off the
bench with 13.5 ppg, while Carter-Williams is both a potent scorer (12.6 ppg)
and deft distributor (second nationally at 8.0 apg).
The Sports Network