PISCATAWAY, N.J. - No. 2/2 Syracuse goes for its seventh consecutive victory when it takes on Rutgers on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. Game time at the sold-out RAC is set for 1 p.m. The Orange enters the game with an overall mark of 26-1, including a 13-1 record in conference play. The Scarlet Knights are 12-14 overall but are 10-5 on their home court. Rutgers is 4-9 in the BIG EAST.
SUPER SOPHS
Syracuse's second-year players have certainly not suffered from a sophomore jinx. Dion Waiters is SU's second-leading scorer, averaging 12.2 points per game. Last year he scored 6.6 points per contest. He has also improved his totals in rebounds (60), assists (73) and steals (56). Fab Melo is averaging 7.8 points per game after contributing 2.3 points per game last season. He ranks second in the BIG EAST in blocks with 72, improving on his total of 25 in his rookie campaign. C.J. Fair has increased his scoring and rebounding to 8.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Last season he posted 6.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. In addition, Fair has 27 assists this season, which is a career high. Baye Keita continues to be a solid contributor off the bench. He has played in 26 games and is averaging 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ORANGE
Syracuse snapped a seven-game losing streak against Louisville with a 52-51 victory against the Cardinals in the KFC Yum! Center on Monday, Feb. 13.
After Louisville took an early lead, the Orange used an 8-1 scoring run to take its first lead of the game at 15-14 with 5:13 to play in the first half. The Cardinals regained the lead when Russ Smith hit three free throws after being fouled on a shot from behind the arc. Five consecutive points by the Cardinals increased their lead to 24-20 with 33 seconds on the clock. The Orange had one final possession before intermission and Dion Waiters drove through the lane and hit a layup as the clock was winding down to cut UofL's lead to 24-22 at halftime.
With Louisville up 30-25 early in the second half, Syracuse used a 7-0 run to regain the lead at 32-30. The Cardinals took the lead back with a three-pointer before the Orange produced a 12-2 scoring run to take its largest advantage at 44-36 with 6:04 left to play.
Louisville responded with a 15-2 run of its own and took a 49-46 lead. Following a media timeout, Syracuse scored the next six points to regain the lead. C.J. Fair scored the final points of the game on a reverse layup on an assist from Waiters with 2:11 on the clock. The Cardinals had a chance to win the game on its final possession. Payton Siva drove to the basket but lost control of the ball. Waiters grabbed the loose ball and was fouled. He missed the front end of a one-and one, but the Cardinals couldn't get off a last second shot as SU held on for the victory.
Fair led the Orange with a team-high 13 points, while Fab Melo added 11 points and six rebounds.
SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
Rutgers has posted a 12-14 overall record during the 2011-12 campaign, including a 4-9 mark in the BIG EAST. The Scarlet Knights are coming off a 71-53 loss against Notre Dame on Wednesday, which extended its losing streak to four. After wins this season against No. 10 Florida and No. 8 Connecticut, Rutgers has the opportunity to defeat three nationally-ranked opponents in the same season for the first time since the 2001-02 campaign, when RU downed four ranked foes.
Freshman guard Eli Carter is Rutgers leading scorer this season, averaging 13.6 points per game, which ranks 21st in the BIG EAST. Freshman guard Miles Mack also averages double figures in scoring (10.1ppg.) and leads the squad with 41 steals, which tie him for 13th in the conference. Junior forward Dane Miller leads the Scarlet Knights on the boards with 6.4 rebounds per game. His 46 blocked shots also lead the squad.
Mike Rice is in his second season at the helm at Rutgers. He led the Scarlet Knights to a 9-2 start last season, their best start since the 1945-46 campaign. This season, he brought in the highest-ranked recruiting class in school history. Previously, Rice served as head coach at Robert Morris from 2007-10.
THE SERIES
Syracuse leads the all-time series with the Scarlet Knights, 37-9. Sunday's game will be the 46th meeting between the two teams. Rutgers and Syracuse last faced off exactly one year ago, February 19, 2011. Brandon Triche had 17 points and a squad-best 44 minutes when Syracuse defeated Rutgers in overtime, 84-81.
**Courtesy SU Athletics**
