Syracuse vs. West Virginia: Fab Or Not, Here They Come

by Sean Keeley on Jan 27, 2012 9:30 AM EST in Syracuse Basketball

The Syracuse Orange will take on the West Virginia Mountaineers this Saturday (ESPNU) and it's starting to look more and more like they'll have to do it without Fabricio de Melo. If that's the case, so be it.

The Big East is a weird, tangled mess, so no Syracuse fan should feel safe either way going into the game. Even if the Mounties are coming off a butt-thumping at the hands of the 9-11 St. John's Red Storm.

The 'Neers are 15-6 and 6-4 in their last ten. Their losses veer from understood (Baylor, UConn) to strange (St. John's, Kent State). Coach and sweatsuit aficionado Bob Huggins is hoping that Fab Melo's academic troubles keep him out of the game so they can avoid another one of those losses:

"The reality is we are going to go play Syracuse and if Fab Melo is back they’re the best team in the country," said WVU coach Bob Huggins.

It's all about Kevin Jones for WVU. He's scored 20 or more points in five-straight games, including 26 against St. John's. He's averaging 20.9 points per game and 11.9 rebounds per game on the season.

Second-leading scorer Darryl "Truck" Bryant (17.4) is in the midst of a slump, which is a good thing considering he's a three-point threat. Averaging seven three-point attempts every game, he's only make two or three of them in that time.

The No. 3 Orange need to keep the momentum going from the Cincinnati win. Syracuse is 14-0 at the Carrier Dome this season, making the Orange the lone team in the Big East with a perfect home record. They'd like to keep that intact as well. SU owns a 33-16 lead in the all-time series.

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Sweatsuit aficionado

and killer macarena dancer, Bob Huggins.

by offthedome on Jan 27, 2012 9:34 AM EST reply actions

Matt Park on Twitter

Boeheim on Melo: "There won’t be anything, not for a while, not until we know. It’ll just take time. We’re just going to have to wait…

http://cusepulp.blogspot.com/

by desoto86 on Jan 27, 2012 9:34 AM EST reply actions

Yuck

Not what I wanted to hear.

by Pinker on Jan 27, 2012 10:07 AM EST up reply actions

The only thing worse than the vagueness of the whole thing ...

… are the people who claim to be in the know but can’t say anything.

Whatever. Rak is going to start the sophomore transformation a year early. Look out WVU, Christmas is coming to town.

I've been involved in a number of cults, both as a leader and a follower. You have more fun as a follower. But you make more money as a leader.

by Fly Rodder on Jan 27, 2012 10:23 AM EST up reply actions

yea, the unfortunate thing is Matt Park is in the know, and Jimmy B is quoted

but i’m with you with the rest of the….. “I’m close friends with someone at SU and they know for a fact…” nonsense

http://cusepulp.blogspot.com/

by desoto86 on Jan 27, 2012 10:41 AM EST up reply actions

A quote like that leads me to believe that there is some sort of investigation going on.

by Rocklionheart on Jan 27, 2012 10:31 AM EST up reply actions

Awww

that’s so sweet of Triche to call Fab a security blanket.

by JB44ever on Jan 27, 2012 10:07 AM EST reply actions

I think we can handle West Virginia and St. Johns

with our current talent on the court, and I like the progress that Rak is making, but I felt so much more confident about this team having our 7ft brick wall anchoring the middle!!!!!

by Pinker on Jan 27, 2012 10:08 AM EST reply actions

True

I think WVU will be very tough. Thank god its a home game and we should be ok. However, Jones is a killer offensive rebounder and they do have 3 point shooters. So, thats a scary mix. Plus they have that Kiljic (sp?) aka “fear the beard” who has some solid low post moves and has been a reliable big man for them. I think it will be a close one

by Mike Will is DoubleDown on Jan 27, 2012 10:22 AM EST up reply actions

kilicli (yes I had to look that up and go back 3 times to check)

what a beard.

http://cusepulp.blogspot.com/

by desoto86 on Jan 27, 2012 10:50 AM EST up reply actions

I was surprised to see they let their mascot play on the team this year.

Shut up brain or I'll stab you with a Q-tip

by MrPlow99 on Jan 27, 2012 11:27 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

If Fab is back by tourney time and can keep practicing we'll be a better team for it.

These extra minutes for RAK are huge. Its clear that Baye has limited upside potential during the season (he needs an off season to bulk up and work on his hands). Rak on the other hand has the potential to improve immensely during this period. He can get his footwork down, get a feel for banging with the big bodies, and get a better feel for his offensive game (sweet passes last week)

If we go into the Tournament with a well rested and practiced Melo, and a Rak that has had a chance to really grow and be a more valuable contributor off the bench, we will dominate. Rak is the solution to our rebounding woes and he plays the position where we have the biggest drop off once a starter goes out (center).

by Pubsky on Jan 27, 2012 10:41 AM EST up reply actions

We need Fabricio

The Orange can win a few games without Fab that’s for sure. But, against UCONN, Georgetown and Lousiville, we need that big presence inside. Rak played well Monday night and I hope he continues to do so. The issue I have is how this would affect seedings for the NCAA. As it stands now we’re projected as a #1 seed, which would be huge. Dropping to a #3 might put us in a weird bracket out west or something. Not having Fab doesn’t help us in any way, and to think so is misguided, regardless of how well Rak plays. The truth is – if Fab plays, we have a better chance of winning every game left on the schedule.than if he’s sidelined.

by Rawred44 on Jan 27, 2012 10:59 AM EST reply actions