Pitt looks to peel the Orange

Opponents of Pitt’s men’s basketball team have noticed a difference in the team’s lineup this… Opponents of Pitt’s men’s basketball team have noticed a difference in the team’s lineup this year, and some of them haven’t been too shy to point it out to sophomore Aaron Gray.

“They actually comment to me sometimes [during the game], they are like ‘You guys keep getting bigger,’ it’s a big advantage for us,” Gray said.

Much like themselves, the games are also getting bigger for this young Pitt squad.

Gray and his teammates will find out just how big tomorrow when No. 4 Syracuse (20-1 overall, 7-0 Big East) comes to the Petersen Events Center for a 7 p.m. contest with No. 18 Pitt (13-3, 3-3 Big East).

A season ago, the Panthers and Orange split their two meetings, but the Syracuse win was historic. Pitt mauled Syracuse, 66-45, in the Carrier Dome before dropping a 49-46 overtime contest in the Petersen Events Center in February. The latter was the first time an opponent left the Pete with a win in 35 attempts.

“It’s definitely fresh in our minds,” Gray said of last year’s loss. “It’s a big rivalry.”

“We’re pretty mad at them,” point guard Carl Krauser said. “[But] they’re a great team.”

Feelings aside, the Panthers figure to be in for a challenge.

The Orange features a pair of Wooden Award candidates. High-flying forward Hakim Warrick has shown his length and athleticism via several heart-stopping dunks this season. A senior, Warrick is averaging 20.1 points, nine rebounds and several confused defenders per contest.

“He’s different, he’s unique because you can’t compare him to anyone recently in the league,” Dixon said. “He’s just so athletic, so long; he does some things I haven’t seen other guys do in this league. He’s much more physical than he was when he started out as a freshman.”

Completing Syracuse’s inside-outside tandem is guard Gerry McNamara, a threat from behind the arc on every possession. The crafty junior, nicknamed ‘the Pride of Scranton,’ shoots a deadly 35.3 percent from 3-point range and also hands out five assists a game. In last weekend’s 72-64 win against West Virginia, McNamara took over the school’s mark for most 3-pointers made in a career.

“We obviously know how good a team they are and how balanced they are offensively,” Dixon said. “They continue to put guys in [a] good position to score

McNamara and Warrick are a good combination.”

Also key for Syracuse has been the resurgence of junior Billy Edelin, who started at the point for Syracuse’s 2003 national championship team. The 6-foot-4-inch point guard missed the season’s first seven games due to personal problems, but has seen his minutes and role increase in recent wins. He scored 14 points in Monday’s win and also scored 12 in the win over the Mountaineers.

With Edelin back, McNamara has also seen his 3-point shooting percentage go up. Without his point guard, McNamara had been forced to handle the point guard duties, which many times translated into him having difficulty in finding his shot. He will still likely run some point tomorrow, but not exclusively with Edelin in the lineup, something that Dixon says will create match-up problems for his Panthers.

“He’s played more minutes the past couple of games,” he said of Edelin. “He gets into the paint, he penetrates and he posts up. So he allows [McNamara] to play a little bit off that ball and that helps them. They have flexibility and a number of weapons [on offense.]

Syracuse’s run as an undefeated team in conference play — a feat shared only by upstart Boston College — appeared to be in jeopardy Monday night when the Orange trailed Rutgers 54-36 at halftime. Rallying behind McNamra, Warrick and Edelin, the Orange rallied and staved off a late Scarlet Knight 3-point attempt for an 86-84 victory.

Gray said Pitt might find its advantage inside against a smaller opponent. The Orange has had difficulty in stopping Panther forward Chevon Troutman the past three seasons. Troutman has averaged over 12 points and five rebounds a game against Syracuse since 2001, including a 12-point, 11-rebound effort in last season’s victory.

“If we all come to play, our big line is better than theirs,” Gray said.

Pitt comes in having dropped three of six after surging to a 10-0 start. Syracuse won its first seven of the season before a 74-60 setback to Oklahoma State on Dec. 7. The Orange hasn’t lost since and is looking to become the first team to ever win two in a row at the Pete.

A week off figures to do the Panthers some good, if this season has been any indication. Pitt hasn’t played since its 76-66 comeback win against Connecticut last Saturday, and the Panthers are 2-0 this season when they have a week or more in between contests.

Syracuse will be the highest-ranked team to ever come to the Pete this weekend. The previous was when No. 6 Notre Dame came in 2003; a 72-55 Panther victory keyed by former point guard Brandin Knight. Rankings aside, Dixon said his team is ready and anxious.

“Our guys are looking forward to [playing] and have responded well since the Connecticut game.”

The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.