Syracuse Basketball: Breaking Down the Orange's 5 Most Dangerous Foes

The undefeated Syracuse Orange cruised through the first portion of the season on its way to a No. 1 ranking. Jim Boeheim's squad has rarely been challenged, but that will change as the meat of the Big East season arrives.

Syracuse has risen to the top with a disruptive zone defense and an offense full of weapons. Fab Melo has improved drastically, and Dion Waiters has provided monumental production off the bench.

In order to take down the Orange, teams will have to take good care of the ball and slow down Syracuse's athletic attack. It will take a team with size and excellent defense to upset Kris Joseph, Scoop Jardine and company.

Which Big East programs are best suited to compete with the Orange? Here is a breakdown of Syracuse's five most dangerous opponents.

5. Cincinnati Bearcats

The Overview: Mick Cronin's much-maligned Cincinnati Bearcats had a tumultuous start to the season, but the athletic bunch will give Syracuse a tough road test.

Why Cincinnati Is Dangerous: The Bearcats have five players who fill up the stat sheet and score in double-digits. Cashmere Wright dishes the rock to set up the athletic wing Dion Dixon and power forward Yancy Gates. They shoot well from long range, and their recent win over Pittsburgh shows they can compete in the upper half of the Big East.

Cincinnati will learn from its embarrassing brawl with Xavier and be a more focused team moving forward. If Syracuse comes out flat, they could find themselves in trouble in Ohio.

The Bottom Line: If the Orange zone contains Cincinnati's playmakers, Boeheim will walk away victorious.

4. Marquette Golden Eagles

Overview: Syracuse was bounced out of the NCAA tournament in the second round last spring by Marquette. Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder led the Golden Eagles attack, and they'll try to have similar success Sunday when they visit the Carrier Dome.

Why Marquette Is Dangerous: Marquette is a team that has the athleticism and skills to give Syracuse a run for its money, so the Orange will have to rely on its deep bench. The Golden Eagles don't take a high volume of three-pointers, but Johnson-Odom, Crowder and Todd Mayo all make timely shots from downtown to stretch the defense.

Johnson Odom is one of the most dynamic guards in the conference, averaging more than 17 points per game, so corralling him and limiting his damage should be high-priority for Syracuse.

The Bottom Line: Marquette will put up a fight, but Syracuse will avenge last year's defeat.

3. Louisville Cardinals

Overview: The Louisville Cardinals are one of the top teams in the Big East, and Rick Pitino is one of the few coaches in the country who has consistently out-coached Jim Boeheim.

Why Louisville Is Dangerous: Peyton Siva is a quick, agile guard who will test the outer shell of that 2-3 zone defense. He's complemented by sharpshooter Kyle Kuric, center Gorgui Dieng, and Russ and Chris Smith.

The Cardinals have multiple weapons on offense, but it's their stifling defense that has given Syracuse fits over the years. Pitino knows what it takes to solve the Orange on both ends of the floor, and his intense pressure has dismantled Syracuse on several occasions.

The Bottom Line: Louisville has an excellent chance to win at least one of its games against the Orange, but Syracuse's depth gives Boeheim the upper hand.

2. Georgetown Hoyas

Overview: Syracuse's longtime rival Georgetown has a 2011-2012 resume that already includes wins over Memphis, Alabama and Louisville. John Thompson III's squad would love to add a win at Syracuse to the list.

Why Georgetown Is Dangerous: The Hoyas have depth to challenge the Orange, and they are playing solid defense so far this season.

Jason Clark, Hollis Thompson and Markel Starks lead the perimeter offense, while 6'10" Henry Sims patrols the paint. Sims is providing solid minutes with scoring and interior passing.

If Sims can give Fab Melo trouble and the guards can continue to shoot at a high percentage, Syracuse could wind up losing at home to the Hoyas.

The Bottom Line: Georgetown has already shown it can take down ranked opponents on the road, and a trip to Syracuse in February will provide them an opportunity for another huge road win. This game is a toss-up.

1. Connecticut Huskies

Overview: Connecticut has just one loss this year, but many of its wins have been unimpressive. Two meetings with the Orange in February will give them a couple of chances for impressive victories.

Why Connecticut Is Dangerous: Jim Calhoun's Huskies are extremely talented at the guard, forward and center positions. Shabazz Napier is the floor general of an attack that includes prolific scorer Jeremy Lamb and bruising center Andre Drummond.

Drummond and fellow post player Alex Oriakhi might be the key to toppling Syracuse. Drummond will protect the rim against Fab Melo and the Orange forwards, and he'll give the Syracuse defense trouble on the other end. If Napier and Ryan Boatwright can play efficiently on the perimeter, Connecticut will be in good shape.

The Bottom Line: Connecticut's size and athleticism will help them win at least one of its matchups with Syracuse.