Published on 12.18.2010 by John Brennan
Syracuse students agree: Gaels speak an entirely different language
The Syracuse Orange return to the hardcourt after a week of finals to face the Iona Gaels tonight at 7pm at the Carrier Dome. If Syracuse loses a game before conference play starts, it's probably this one. After an 0-3 start, the Gaels have won seven straight games, starting with a double overtime win against the Richmond Spiders. Evidently Iona really liked how it felt after that win, so they decided to keep doing it -- against the likes of Albany, Norfolk, Canisius, Niagara, Long Island, and Fairleigh Dickinson. But, as Jim Boeheim will tell you, it's not who you play, but how you play. Iona has played well, led by some jerk-off they call Optimus Prime. In my experience this has been either a Transformer or an extremely alcoholic drink a bartender at the old Darwins concocted. But to give this name to a junior forward averaging 22.1 points per game on a 62.6 percentage seems a bit much (his actual name is Mike Glover, if you care). His numbers have been up in December, too. Syracuse will have to be strong in its zone to try to neutralize "OP" and put the ball in the hands of others. Luckily for Iona, as a team they have a 47.3% field goal percentage (including 35.6% from 3) and are averaging 80.3 points per game. If it's how you play, and not who you play, Syracuse must be at the top of its game and Iona must take a night off. Rick Jackson needs to continue his rebounding on both ends of the court to give Syracuse more scoring opportunities. It would be nice if Brandon Triche and Kris Joseph woke up from their relatively quiet seasons so far and just took over this game. Syracuse wins by six, with a total over/under of 158 (yep, bonus betting lines courtesy of your friends at
Orange::44!).
Labels: Basketball, Preview
Once again your powers of prognostication are uncanny. Not only did you nail the final score but you had the over-under within 2 points. I bow to your mad skillz.