No.1 NCAA College Team In The Nation Syracuse Visiting DePaul
Sunday, January 01, 2012
Frank Martin
Top-ranked Syracuse Orange begins a two-game road swing when it faces Big East foe DePaul Blue Demons. The Orange opened Big East play Wednesday with a 75-49 home victory over Seton Hall, riding 12 points and a school-record 10 blocks from sophomore center Fab Melo.
The Blue Demons, who open their Big East schedule after a 10-day holiday break, closed out their non-conference slate by winning five in a row.
-
#1 Syracuse Orange
@ DePaul Blue Demons
When:
5:00 PM ET, Sunday, January 1, 2012
Where:
Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois
TV:
5 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), WCUU (Chicago), ESPN3.com
The Orange have opened as 14-point favorites on SBG Global Sportsbook’s Live NCAA Basketball Odds.
Syracuse Orange (14-0, 1-0 Big East): The Orange pace the Big East in scoring (80.3), but much of their offense has come from a dominating defense that tops the conference in blocked shots (7.6 per game) while also leading the nation in steals (11.6) and turnover margin (plus 8.4). A balanced lineup features seven players averaging at least 6.8 points, led by Kris Joseph (13.4) and Dion Waiters (12.5). Waiters also has a team-high 30 steals, leading seven players who average at least one.
DePaul Blue Demons (9-3, 0-0): The young Blue Demons are off to their best start since 1999-2000 thanks in large part to the potent sophomore duo of forward Cleveland Melvin (18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds) and guard Brandon Young (17.4 points, 53.8 percent shooting, 4.8 assists). DePaul is third among Big East teams in scoring (77.8) and also ranks near the top of the league in steals (9.4) and turnover margin (plus 4.4). The Blue Demons, though, are last in the conference in scoring defense (70.3) and rebounding margin (minus 4.9).
1.
Syracuse leads the
all-time series 8-4 and has won five straight meetings. The Orange rolled to a
lopsided 107-59 home victory last season.
2. DePaul has won two of its four home games against the Orange, and the two Syracuse
victories (in 2008 and 2010) were decided by a total of seven points.
3. The
Blue Demons are 3-17 all-time against No. 1-ranked teams, with zero wins in 15
tries since a 1952 victory over La Salle. DePaul has not played a No. 1 team since
2000.
Bet on NCAA College Basketball games with SBG Global Sportsbook, click here!
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Tags
allstate arena - brandon young - cleveland melvin - depaul blue demons - dion waiters - fab melo - kris joseph - syracuse orange
