Syracuse Orange Look To Break Winless Streak Come Tournament Time

The Syracuse Orange are at it again this March.  A team that is loaded with talent and Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, the Cuse are looking for redemption come tournament time.  The selection committee hasn't treated Syracuse well in recent years.

Ever since winning the National Title in 2003 behind freshman sensation Carmelo Anthony and reaching the sweet sixteen the following year, the Orange are winless in the big dance to date.  To put this absence in context, Syracuse hasn't had a drought this long since 1973.  Four years without a NCAA Tournament win, that makes you wonder is this the year the streak is broken?

Jim Boeheim is always ready for whatever March Madness may throw his team's way.  In his 33 seasons at Syracuse he's won seven Big East regular season titles, five Big East Championships, been to the Big Dance 25 times which includes three national title game appearances resulting in one championship.

This year's team is hungry to make a stretch come tournament time.  Syracuse has played extremely well in the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden.  Cuse won the tournament in 2005 led by Senior Hakim Warrick, and then again amazingly won four games in four days behind the heroic effort of senior guard Gerry McNamara.

Both times the Orange were upset in 2004 by the 13 seeded Vermont Catamounts and again by 12 seed Texas A&M Aggies.  Syracuse had their chances in both games, but were defeated in the first round back-to-back years.

Currently Syracuse is ranked 25th in the country and has an impressive NCAA Tournament resume.  Their RPI is 23 and SOS 13 with a record of 21 wins and 8 losses.  Seven of those eight losses have come to NCAA tournament caliber teams in the deep and talent Big East conference.

Early wins in the season over Kansas, Florida, and No. 3 Memphis are examples of Syracuse's ability to win on the road and at neutral sites.  After the selection committee denied Syracuse an at large bid after a respectable 22-10 (10-6) record in 2007, the Orange want to let their play on the court secure a bid.

This year's team is as good as any in recent years.  Sophomore sensation Johnny Flynn runs the offense as good as any point guard in the country.  Junior Eric Devendorf can take the ball off the dribble or shoot from the perimeter.

Junior Paul Harris is explosive when he touches the ball and although many considered him to be undersized he can grab rebounds away from the biggest players. 

Two players that have been slowed by injury as late is Center Arinze Onuaku and three point threat Andy Rautins.  Recently, these two have slowly regained their form and need to be healthy in Syracuse plans on playing deep into March.

Tonight is the final game for Senior Kristof Ongenaet.  A player who has only played at Syracuse for the past two seasons, he's the type of player that gives it his all.  He's not one that dominates the stats, but every time you watch him play you can't miss his intensity and style in which he leaves it all out on floor.

Syracuse doesn't have a problem getting up and down the floor.  They are one of the top scoring teams in the country.  The Orange can put up points in a hurry.  If that trend continues, Syracuse will surely be a force come tournament time.

The defense of the Orange is at times non-existent.  A team that has allowed over 80 points in seven games the coveted 2-3 zone hasn't been effective at times during the season.

A win tonight over Rutgers will give Syracuse a first round bye in the Big East tournament.  This year all 18 teams will make the tournament which will begin on Tuesday.  Therefore seeding in this tournament will have a tremendous impact on the outcome.

Syracuse ends the regular season at Marquette on Saturday.  If they win both games this week they will be riding a four game winning streak into New York City.  On the other hand Marquette could potentially be entering the Big East Tournament on a four game losing streak.

Momentum is something every time in the nation wants to have as March moves on.  Remember, come April 6th there will only be two teams left playing for the right to be called National Champions. 

There's no doubt Syracuse has the potential to surprise a lot of people with a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.  If that is to happen it all starts tonight with a game that Syracuse should win easily.  As the competition gets tougher the Orange are going to have to raise their levels of intensity even higher.  Now lets see how far it can take them.