A 1996 graduate of Syracuse University, Jim has reported on Syracuse sports for the Syracuse University Alumni Club of Southern California on nearly a decade. He has also written a fantasy basketball column published by NBA.com. He currently resides in Syracuse.
Longtime practitioners of the 2-3 zone defense, the #8 Orange were befuddled when #11 Georgetown used that tactic to shut them down and leave the Carrier Dome with both a 57-46 victory and sole possession of first place in the Big East.
After 12 minutes of even play, #8 Syracuse blew out Providence over the remaining eight minutes of the first half en route to an 84-59 victory at the Carrier Dome.
In the 132nd game of his career, Brandon Triche set a career-best mark, overcoming a choppy start to pour in 29 points to propel #6 Syracuse to a 76-65 road win over Seton Hall on Saturday night.
Syracuse will play next season in the Atlantic Coast Conference while Connecticut will stay in the realigned Big East, though the Huskies could be enticed to head to another conference if asked.
SU posted their 37th consecutive home win and their eighth straight overall win over the Red Storm (15-9, 7-5), as they got four players into double digits in scoring, including Southerland.
Monday night, #9 Syracuse got off the skids by combining a balanced offensive attack with a stifling defense to handle #25 Notre Dame in the Carrier Dome, 63-47, ending their modest losing streak at two games
Saturday afternoon, #3 Syracuse combined what was far and away their worst offensive performance of the season, shooting 33.3 percent from the floor, with their fourth-worst defensive performance of the season.
#3 Syracuse got a late tip-in credited to C.J. Fair on Monday afternoon to complete a comeback and win their second straight nailbiter, edging #21 Cincinnati at the Carrier Dome, 57-55.