Bucknell defeated the Orange in the Carrier Dome during the 2005-2006 season
SYRACUSE -- As we saw last night, when Davidson shocked #11 Kansas, anything is possible in college basketball.
Rest assured, that's the message that Syracuse University Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim is passing along to his top-ranked team as they prepare to play Bucknell (7-4) of the Patriot League. The Bison have that reputation of battling the big boys and winning.
Boeheim knows that all too well.
In the 2005-2006 season, Gerry McNamara's senior campaign, Bucknell came into the Carrier Dome and beat the Orange 74-69. That upset came on the heels of Bucknell upending Kansas in the first round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
Do those facts mean Bucknell will make it close, let alone come away with the win? Probably not. But it is worth knowing heading into this one, that this program has that no fear mentality.
The Bison feature four players averaging in double figures for scoring, but the scoring drops of significantly after that.
Bryson Johnson and Cameron Ayers are the deep threats, they've made 27 and 21 three pointers through 11 games so far this season. Again though, there's a drop off after those guys, the next highest 3-point total for one player is 7..for the season.
They've played some decent competition so far this year. A pair of 12-point losses to Vanderbilt and Minnesota mark the peak of their competition and the marquee wins are over Princeton and Richmond.
So there's some things worth knowing about the Bison, sure, but there's a reason many experts are saying this is the best SU team they've seen since 2003.
There's a reason Syracuse is #1.
The Orange is so balanced, and so talented. Any of ten or even more players can beat you on any given night. If the 2-3 zone doesn't squeeze opponents into submission, then the scoring threats of Kris Joseph, Dion Waiters, Scoop Jardine, Brandon Triche, or James Southerland or--you get the point--will beat them.
Syracuse will probably win this one with ease, something to the tune of 86-60, but at least after reading this, you can have a few extra facts to throw at your friends while watching the game.
