Cleveland State at Syracuse Dec 15 2008 7:00PM
PICK: Syracuse
Your pick was graded at: -12.5 5Dimes
EXPERT: Larry Ness
TITLE: Larry's Las Vegas Insider-CBB (30-16 run)
EVALUATION: Play Not Evaluated.
REASON FOR PICK: Cleveland State fans will always have 1986, when head coach Kevin Mackey's team beat Bob Knight's Indiana team in the first round of the "Big Dance" and advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing 71-70 to Navy, led by "The Admiral." Last year's accomplishments pale in comparison but it's not often that a school goes from 10-21 one season (2006-07) to 21-13 the following year (2007-08). Head coach Gary Waters is in his third season with the Vikings and four starters return from last year, as the Vikings only lose senior guard Watson (averaged just 5.2 PPG). The 6-5 Bullock, a four-year starter, again leads the way, averaging 13.5 PPG and 6.9 RPG. He's joined in the starting lineup by the 6-9 Moore (5.1-3.6) and three guards, Cole (11.4), Jackson (9.4-5.1-5.1) and Brown (8.9-6.0). The 6-8 Tandy (4.0-4.5) is the team's top reserve. CSU is 6-4 but has topped 70 points just one time this year, averaging a modest 61.8 PPG. The team is allowing only 55.8 PPG but it had better play good 'D' as the Vikings are shooting a poor .411 from the floor, including just 25.7 percent on threes. That does not spell good news when heading into a game with Syracuse in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse failed to get an invite to the "Big Dance" for the second straight year last season and Boeheim's team seems intent on that streak ending right there! Syracuse suffered through numerous injuries last year and by Jan 1, Boeheim was starting three freshman and two sophomores. The Orange did win 21 games last year, led by 6-10 freshman Greene (17.7-7.2) and fellow freshman, PG Flynn (15.7-5.3 APG). Greene left for the NBA but Flynn is back, averaging 18.3 PPG and 5.0 APG in the team's 9-0 start. He's joined on the perimeter by vets Devendorf (14.0-3.3) and Rautins (9.4-3.8 APG), who have both recovered nicely from last year's injuries. Harris, a 6-4 swingman is off to a terrific start (13.7-8.6) and the 6-9 Onuaku (13.3-7.6) is no Greene, but he's not bad. The 6-8 Ongenaet (1.6-4.3) regularly starts but is little more than 'window dressing.' Two new freshman, the 6-6 Jones (6.0) and the 6-7 Joseph (5.4-3.3) have shown early promise while 6-9 sophomore Jackson (4.2-5.7) continues to fight for playing time. Syracuse looked a little 'rusty' on Saturday, having not played for a week. Still, the Orange recovered to beat Long Beach State, 79-55. Devendorf, who could be in some trouble because of an off-the-court issue, showed no signs anything was bothering him, scoring 13 points and adding five assists, while Onuaku held the team with 17. Harris had just five points (1-of-5 on FGs) and Flynn just seven points (2-of-7) but I hardly expect them to repeat those performances here.Syracuse averages 83.4 PPG and is shooting 50.3 percent as a team, dwarfing the offensive capabilities of Cleveland St. Syracuse last opened 10-0 back in 1999-2000 (that team opened 19-0!) and I surely don't see this CSU team standing in its way tonight. Cleveland State is 0-7 on the road vs ranked opponents since the 2002-03 season, losing by an average margin of 21.3 PPPG. That sounds about right, here! Las Vegas Insider on Syracuse (8*).
PICK: Syracuse
Your pick was graded at: -12.5 5Dimes
EXPERT: Larry Ness
TITLE: Larry's Las Vegas Insider-CBB (30-16 run)
EVALUATION: Play Not Evaluated.
REASON FOR PICK: Cleveland State fans will always have 1986, when head coach Kevin Mackey's team beat Bob Knight's Indiana team in the first round of the "Big Dance" and advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing 71-70 to Navy, led by "The Admiral." Last year's accomplishments pale in comparison but it's not often that a school goes from 10-21 one season (2006-07) to 21-13 the following year (2007-08). Head coach Gary Waters is in his third season with the Vikings and four starters return from last year, as the Vikings only lose senior guard Watson (averaged just 5.2 PPG). The 6-5 Bullock, a four-year starter, again leads the way, averaging 13.5 PPG and 6.9 RPG. He's joined in the starting lineup by the 6-9 Moore (5.1-3.6) and three guards, Cole (11.4), Jackson (9.4-5.1-5.1) and Brown (8.9-6.0). The 6-8 Tandy (4.0-4.5) is the team's top reserve. CSU is 6-4 but has topped 70 points just one time this year, averaging a modest 61.8 PPG. The team is allowing only 55.8 PPG but it had better play good 'D' as the Vikings are shooting a poor .411 from the floor, including just 25.7 percent on threes. That does not spell good news when heading into a game with Syracuse in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse failed to get an invite to the "Big Dance" for the second straight year last season and Boeheim's team seems intent on that streak ending right there! Syracuse suffered through numerous injuries last year and by Jan 1, Boeheim was starting three freshman and two sophomores. The Orange did win 21 games last year, led by 6-10 freshman Greene (17.7-7.2) and fellow freshman, PG Flynn (15.7-5.3 APG). Greene left for the NBA but Flynn is back, averaging 18.3 PPG and 5.0 APG in the team's 9-0 start. He's joined on the perimeter by vets Devendorf (14.0-3.3) and Rautins (9.4-3.8 APG), who have both recovered nicely from last year's injuries. Harris, a 6-4 swingman is off to a terrific start (13.7-8.6) and the 6-9 Onuaku (13.3-7.6) is no Greene, but he's not bad. The 6-8 Ongenaet (1.6-4.3) regularly starts but is little more than 'window dressing.' Two new freshman, the 6-6 Jones (6.0) and the 6-7 Joseph (5.4-3.3) have shown early promise while 6-9 sophomore Jackson (4.2-5.7) continues to fight for playing time. Syracuse looked a little 'rusty' on Saturday, having not played for a week. Still, the Orange recovered to beat Long Beach State, 79-55. Devendorf, who could be in some trouble because of an off-the-court issue, showed no signs anything was bothering him, scoring 13 points and adding five assists, while Onuaku held the team with 17. Harris had just five points (1-of-5 on FGs) and Flynn just seven points (2-of-7) but I hardly expect them to repeat those performances here.Syracuse averages 83.4 PPG and is shooting 50.3 percent as a team, dwarfing the offensive capabilities of Cleveland St. Syracuse last opened 10-0 back in 1999-2000 (that team opened 19-0!) and I surely don't see this CSU team standing in its way tonight. Cleveland State is 0-7 on the road vs ranked opponents since the 2002-03 season, losing by an average margin of 21.3 PPPG. That sounds about right, here! Las Vegas Insider on Syracuse (8*).
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