The fifth-ranked Syracuse Orange are looking to take out some frustrations on the Colgate Red Raiders.
Colgate opened its season with a narrow victory over Binghamton, but the next game yielded drastically different results. The Raiders dropped a 68-41 decision to Wisconsin, a team that plays tough defense much like this afternoon's opponent. Colgate competes in the Patriot League and will play a rather modest non-conference slate after tonight's affair.
Through two outings, Colgate is averaging just 59.5 ppg while allowing 71.0 ppg to opponents. The only double-digit scorer on the roster for the Raiders is Mike Venezia, as he is netting 14.0 ppg despite his 38.1 percent shooting from the field. Against Wisconsin last time out, Colgate shot just 33.3 percent from the floor in the first half and trailed by 22 points at intermission. The club then hit just eight field goals over the final 20 minutes, crushing any hope of a comeback. The Raiders finished the tilt with a 43-29 rebounding disadvantage and a mere seven assists. John Bradenburg was the only Colgate player to reach double figures in scoring in the setback, as he hit all five of his field goal attempts en route to 11 points.
Syracuse owns a 118-45 series lead over Colgate and hasn't lost to the Raiders since 1962, despite playing almost every season.
Of course, there's a lot more going on that all that. I'm sure you haven't forgotten that. Hopefully, for at least 2.5 hours, we can leave it off the court and play some basketball.
Until Boeheim's presser, in which it'll all come swarming back.
Leave your pre-, in- and post-game comments below.
G'ORANGE!