NCAAB: PITT HAS BIG HOME TEST
The top-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers get their first real test at home when they host the #8 Syracuse Orangemen on Monday night.
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Both teams are coming off tough Big East games on Saturday, which is almost a given in the best conference in the country. The Panthers played at Rick Pitino’s Louisville team and Syracuse had a home tilt with Notre Dame.
To best analyze this Monday encounter, let’s look at the position matchups.
Frontcourt
Pittsburgh’s DeJaun Blair likes to set the tone by banging down low and using all 265 pounds on his 6’7” inch frame. Blair will be matched up against 6’9”, 275 pound, Arinze Onuaku who should be able to neutralize him somewhat. Onuaku is shooting an incredible 70% from the floor this year.
The key frontcourt player for Pitt in this game is 6’6” small forward Sam Young. He is averaging 19 points per game and has a few inches on his counterpart, Paul Harris. Harris is built like a linebacker but he is generously listed at 6’4”.
Young scored 19 points in the only meeting between the teams last year, an 82-77 win at Syracuse.
Advantage: Pittsburgh
Backcourt
Everyone can’t wait to see the battle between two of the best point guards in the conference, Jonny Flynn for the ‘Cuse and Levance Fields for Pittsburgh. Flynn is the leading scorer on the team at 16.3 PPG in addition to his 5.7 assists.
Flynn’s partner in the backcourt is Andy Rautins, son of former Orangeman great Leo Rautins. Rautins can shoot outside just like his dad, and that’s evidenced but his close to 40% mark from three-point land. Fields’ backcourt mate is talented, but still developing freshman Jermaine Dixon.
Advantage: Syracuse
Bench
Syracuse has brought talented shooting guard, Eric Devendorf off the bench since returning from his two-game suspension. Having his scoring prowess off the pine is a big boost and he is still getting his 30 plus minutes anyhow.
Pittsburgh’s two main bench players are solid forward Gilbert Brown and guard Brad Wannamaker.
Advantage: Syracuse
Pittsburgh is a perfect 11-0 at home this year with their last game there coming on Wednesday night against South Florida. The Panthers were 20.5 point chalk and failed to cover the spread with their 75-62 victory.
The Panthers have now failed to cover two of their last three home games and are 3-3 ATS there on the year.
Syracuse’s last road game was also on Wednesday night and they lost to Georgetown 88-74 as seven-point dogs. Rautins had a scare with his knee in that game but he should be fine.
That was only the 4th true road game for the Orange this year, they have played two neutral site games. For the season, they are 3-1 straight up away and 2-2 ATS, including an impressive win and cover at Memphis before Christmas.
Syracuse will have to play much better than they did against Georgetown, but if they do, they have a chance at an upset.
