Pitt, ‘Cuse ready for second meeting

Two Saturdays ago, it was built up as two hot teams heading into a big showdown, one touting… Two Saturdays ago, it was built up as two hot teams heading into a big showdown, one touting an 11-game win streak and the other winning 13 of its first 14 games.

What a difference two weeks make.

Pitt, now 15-1 overall and 5-0 in the Big East conference has only played one game since its battle with the Orangemen. That contest in between was the 65-64 slugfest the Panthers pulled out last Saturday against the Georgetown Hoyas. Perhaps if it were not for Julius Page’s free throw with .4 seconds to play, the Panthers may be coming into this weekend’s tilt on the same down note as Syracuse.

However, Pitt may be handicapped.

On Wednesday early in practice, Pitt starting point guard Brandin Knight sprained his left ankle.

“We were working and Brandin came down on Julius’s foot and rolled it. [Knight] sprained his ankle in the first 10 minutes of practice [on Wednesday], and he didn’t practice at all [Thursday],” Pitt head coach Ben Howland said. “He does have some swelling and probably won’t practice [today]. He will be a game time decision.”

Knight is currently in a boot on his left ankle and is questionable to play vs. the Orangemen. If Knight cannot play, freshman Carl Krauser will get the start at point.

When Syracuse, now 13-3 overall and 4-2 in the Big East, last played the Panthers, it was coming off its biggest win of the season, a 76-69 upset of then-No. 11 Missouri. Although the record might not reflect it, the tables have turned for the worst on the Orangemen.

Since playing Pitt, Syracuse easily handled Seton Hall, 83-65, in the Carrier Dome, and then defeated the Miami Hurricanes. After Miami’s James Jones connected on a jumper with 8 minutes, 38 seconds remaining, Syracuse found itself down 49-45. That jumper would be the final points Miami would score as Syracuse ended the game on a 9-0 run and won 54-49 after only shooting 37 percent from the field and holding Miami scoreless for the final eight minutes and change.

After the tough victory, Syracuse struggled on the road as most teams do in the Big East. On Wednesday night, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights handed the Orangemen a 68-65 defeat after Syracuse’s Carmelo Anthony’s final second shot fell short.

Syracuse is not an easy place to play. Just ask Memphis, Georgia Tech, Boston College and Missouri, all of whom fell in the Carrier Dome.

Pitt has been simulating the atmosphere by playing crowd noise and music in practice in order to prepare for the 30,000-plus fans.

“Usually, when we go to a place where we know it is going to be loud we do that to make it seem more realistic,” Page said. “The last time we did that was before going to Rutgers.”

Syracuse has been a tough team to play at home in its two-three zone.

“If you look at their zone they are so big and so long. They are 7 feet, and Hakim Warrick is listed at 6 feet, 9 inches, but he plays like he is 7 feet,” Howland said. “Carmelo Anthony is 6 feet, 8 inches, Keith Duany is 6 feet, 6 inches and I just remember having a great feeling after winning in Syracuse [last year].”

Early against Syracuse two weeks ago, Pitt fell behind by settling for outside jumpers and three-point attempts.

“It is a matter of us being patient and fundamental and not jacking up early shots, because that is what they [Syracuse] want you to do,” Page said.

Once the Panthers started attacking and slashing into the Syracuse zone, there was no stopping Pitt.

The Panthers, however, found themselves in an all too familiar scenario last week against Georgetown, settling for jumpers and threes early on against a zone. Just as the previous week, once the Panthers started attacking the zone, Pitt’s tremendous penetration and interior passing ability took over and shredded the Hoyas.

In order for Pitt to not be added to the list of Orangemen victims, Pitt cannot come out early and struggle against the zone again. If history repeats itself, look for Howland to call an early time out and get his team back on track and to attack the zone. Once Pitt starts hitting the high-post area – Chevon Troutman had 23 points and Ontario Lett had six points in the previous engagement – and either attacking or reversing the ball, the good looks at the hoop and points should follow.

“I have always been comfortable with Chevy,” Lett said. “He knows where to go when I go into the high-post, and I know where he is at, so we look for each other.”

Page led the Panthers with 25 points in the previous game mainly by slashing from the wing, which the Buffalo, N.Y., native must continue to do for the Panthers to be successful.

With Knight’s ankle in question, Syracuse will look to full court press the Panthers, just as they did two weeks ago. Pitt must attack the press and take care of the ball, which seems to fall on Krauser since Knight will not be 100 percent if he plays.

“[Krauser] had three turnovers against Syracuse the first time in the first half, then none in the second half,” Howland said.

“We have full confidence in Carl,” Lett added.

If Knight does play on Saturday, look for Krauser to play the point and Knight to move to the wing, especially against the Syracuse zone. This will help Pitt attack the zone and let Knight use his offensive skills to slash.

Attacking the zone is the cure for Pitt’s offense, but defending Syracuse is the No. 1 priority. In the last matchup, Carmelo Anthony, the former Big East leading scorer (now tied for fourth with 21.3 points per game), was contained to only 14 points by Panthers’ forward Jaron Brown.

Look for Brown to continue to defend Anthony because Troutman proved to be ineffective during his brief stint on Anthony.

“It will not be just [Brown] guarding him, it may end up being Julius some and Chevy some, but primarily Jaron,” Howland said.

Containing Anthony will be very important for the Panthers, but in the first game, Syracuse had only one true guard in Gerry McNamara. Billy Edelin played his first game against the Panthers two weeks ago and was stopped by the Panther guards.

Since his debut, Edelin’s minutes have increased and so has his scoring after he had eight points against Rutgers. Look for Edelin to continue his improvement and team up with McNamara on the court, allowing McNamara to get more scoring opportunities and add to his 14.9 points per game. McNamara had 19 in game one against Pitt. The Panther trio of Page, Knight and Krauser will have to stop the Orange backcourt.

The x-factor for Syracuse is Warrick, who is averaging 16.8 points per game. Pitt must keep him off the offensive boards and not allow him to get another double double, which he had last game when he put up 11 points and 10 rebounds.

“We are preparing for everybody, and it seems we are preparing for Warrick more than for Carmelo [Anthony],” Lett said.

Game time is set for 7 p.m. tomorrow in the Carrier Dome.