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#15 Notre Dame (12-1, 1-0) at #5 Syracuse (14-0, 1-0)
Saturday – January 1, 2010 3:30PM EST ESPNU
Syracuse favored by 6 ½, over/under 142.
Two Big East teams with a combined record of 26-1 jump into conference play with both feet as the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame travel to the Carrier Dome to play the Syracuse Orange on New Year’s Day.
Since losing to Kentucky on December 8, the Irish have won four straight games, including Tuesday’s upset win over #9 Georgetown by 14 points at home. Tim Abromaitis scored 20 points in leading the Irish to the victory in their Big East opening win against the Hoyas.
Syracuse is unbeaten this season, including winning each of their last five games in which they scored 80 or more points. The Orange also has impressive wins, including a win over Michigan State three weeks ago.
ND coach Mike Bray has faced the challenge of losing star Luke Harangody to graduation and has used a more balanced approach to offense to pick up for the senior’s departure.
Abromaitis leads the team with 16.4 point per game, shooting 43% from the field. Ben Hansbrough is second on Notre Dame with 15.5 points per contest, shooting a team best 47.8 percent from three-point range on 33 of 69 shooting from beyond the arch.
Two other members of the Fighting Irish are averaging double digits in points per game: Carleton Scott (12.1) and Tyrone Nash (10.5) are also chipping in consist scoring. Scott Martin rounds out the starting five, while Eric Atkins and Jack Cooley are also playing over 10 minutes per game.
The Irish as a team are shooting 45.3 percent from the field and are holding opponents to just 39.1 percent field goal shooting. The Irish are also winning the battle of the boards, averaging a 41.6 to 32.1 rebound advantage per contest. Nash leads the Irish with 33 offensive rebounds, accounting for 40.2 percent of his rebounds.
For the Orange, the ended the front end of their schedule undefeated, marking the fourth time in the 35-year coaching tenure of Jim Boeheim that Syracuse has started the season with 14 straight victories.
The Orange leads the all-time series with the Irish 23-18 and is 11-10 at home.
Three decades ago, Leo Rautins came to Syracuse from over the border in Canada and led them to success in the early years of the Big East. Now it’s another Canadian leading the way in Montreal native Kris Joseph. The 6-7 junior scored 27 points in a victory over Providence this past week. He leads the Orange in scoring at 14.1 points per game.
Fellow forward Rick Jackson is averaging 13.6 points per games and also 12.2 rebounds per contest, which is tops in the conference and fourth in the nation. Scoop Jardine is also having a nice season running the offense, as the junior from Philadelphia is third in the conference in assists and fourth in steals.
The Orange swept the season series last season and I expect them to do it again.
The odds makers have the Syracuse Orange as a -6.5 point favorite with an over/under of 142.
Free Pick: Syracuse 74, Notre Dame 68
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