Item: Syracuse basketball’s next opponent, Georgetown, is one of only seven unbeaten teams (as of Dec. 12) left in Division I, and off to its best start since 2010-11.
We give new Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing credit for one important early season element; he sure knew how to schedule prior to Big East conference play to build his team’s confidence.
Before the Hoyas (8-0) renew their longtime, now non-conference rivalry hosting Syracuse (8-1) Saturday (12:30 p.m. ET/CBS) at Capital One Arena, GU has faced a soft-as-marshmallow schedule consisting of Jacksonville, Mount St. Mary’s, Maryland Eastern Shore, Richmond (only road game), Maine, Coppin State, Howard and North Carolina A&T (only team with an above .500 record) who have a combined record of 21-62 (as of Dec. 12), and an average RPI of 273 (out of 351 Div. I programs).
» Related: Howard Washington has been a solid defender at the top of Syracuse’s zone
Hardly the competition it seems to fully prepare for the Orange and subsequently the likes of No. 1 Villanova and Top 25 ranked Xavier and Seton Hall in league play.
With Syracuse off to its best start since the school record 25-0 start to begin the 2013-14 season, there’s certainly plenty of intrigue to the 93rd meeting between the old Big East’s all-time greatest rivalry as the Orange are motivated to not only continue growing towards a competitive ACC schedule, but looking to hand Georgetown and Ewing loss number one.
For more Syracuse coverage, Like our Facebook page and follow us @TheJuiceOnline.
