Syracuse Basketball Seeks Sweet Payback Versus Hoyas On Saturday

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 15: Otto Porter Jr.
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 15: Otto Porter Jr.

The Syracuse basketball squad heads to our nation’s capital this weekend for a duel with one of its storied rivals, Georgetown.

I have a confession to make.

I’m a passionate, some would even say overzealous, SU alum. There are few things that matter more to me than the Orange hoops outfit.

Yet I don’t despise Georgetown.

I know, I know. I’ve got some issues to sort out, apparently.

All kidding aside, while the vast majority of ‘Cuse fans across the country absolutely hate the Hoyas, it’s not in my DNA.

Sure, I want Syracuse (8-1) to demolish Georgetown (8-0) this coming Saturday afternoon in Washington, D.C.

But my twin brother and I were born in the District of Columbia. We grew up in neighboring Maryland. As a kid, I cheered on the UMD Terrapins, as well as the Hoyas. They are local teams to me.

Plus, my obsession with SU didn’t surface until I began my studies there in 1996. Yes, I’m pretty old. And, yes, I’m about to turn 40!

I’ve also lived in D.C., and now nearby Arlington, Va., for roughly the last 15 years. I bleed Orange, of course. However, the disgust for Georgetown that envelopes many in the ‘Cuse community simply doesn’t apply to me.

In fact, I watch the Hoyas here and there, and I root them on – except when they face off with Syracuse.

Speaking of that, I get the sense that Saturday’s nationally televised affair will amount to a tight

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contest between former Big East foes. To date, the Hoyas have played one of the weakest non-conference schedules in college basketball, evidenced by their awful RPI of close to 200.

SU, meanwhile, has solid successes against both Connecticut and the aforementioned Maryland, with our lone setback to a ranked Kansas crew. At present, head coach Jim Boeheim’s bunch has a RPI that hovers around 25, which is fairly strong.

Georgetown will want to prove to the world that it can compete with – and beat – programs from the power conferences. The Orange, should it conquer the Hoyas, will continue trending in a positive direction toward a top-25 ranking.

Additionally, after a disappointing 8-5 mark in the 2016-17 out-of-conference slate, the ‘Cuse may find itself eying a possible 11-2 or 12-1 record before Atlantic Coast Conference clashes arrive.

In the past two stanzas, Georgetown has bested Syracuse, and that irritates me. Particularly since 12 months ago, the Hoyas won at the Carrier Dome, 78-71, on Pearl Washington Day.

Ugh. That stunk.

Still, SU holds a 49-43 overall edge over Georgetown, and I’d like to grab a 50th victory in the series this weekend.

The Hoyas are guided by head coach Patrick Ewing, a Big East legend who is in his inaugural campaign at the helm of his alma mater.

Granted, Ewing’s guys are undefeated at this juncture. They also possess one sole triumph versus an opponent with a RPI of better than 200.

Soft, to say the least.

Regardless, don’t think for a second that the Orange will in any way cruise in this match-up. Ewing will have his boys ready to go.

Three Georgetown dudes average double-figures in scoring, led by junior center Jessie Govan, who generates approximately 21 points per game. That production mirrors ‘Cuse sophomore wing Tyus Battle.

Albeit against “lesser” competition, the Hoyas score 10 more points per contest than SU while shooting at a higher clip from the field and 3-point land. Our defense allows about 2.5 fewer points a game. Rebounding totals are virtually identical.

Georgetown dishes out a half-dozen more assists, although Syracuse has advantages in blocked shots and steals.

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The bottom line? Saturday’s event is no cakewalk for the Orange. The ‘Cuse has shown a ton of grit and heart so far in 2017-18, and I’m optimistic that we can prevail in our nation’s capital.

It’s true that I don’t detest the Hoyas. At the same time, I most certainly don’t want them to win.