With Syracuse on a 9-0 run after the first few minutes of play, Syracuse freshman center Fab Melo already in foul trouble with two. Cincinnati gets on the board with 15:42 left in the first half, Gates with a foul and one for the Bearcats. The score is 11-3, Syracuse.
What happens next is could be described as the best performance yet by the 2010-11 S.U, and visual confirmation that this team is ready for the Big East.
As of 12:13 on the clock, it's guard Scoop Jardine with back-to-back threes for the Orange, whom until recently has had fans worried that the Orange lacked crucial outside shooting ability. The score is 18-6 Orange, the usual double-digit lead proud S.U. fans have come to expect this year from the undefeated Orange. Now 17-0, thanks to the teams leading scorer, junior forward Kris Joseph, averaging 15 points per game.
Then, Joeseph goes down and hits his head hard. Thankfully, moments later gets up and walks off of the court on his own two feet. Freshman C.J. Fair takes over for Joseph in the 3 spot while Joseph recovers. Joseph would not return in the game.
With the Syracuse orange on a 9-0 fast break point advantage, as well as looking good defensively as we've come to expect from Head Coach Jim Boeheim's patented 2-3 zone, the Orange take a break at the half leading 35 to 31. While this may seem like too close for comfort, S.U. fans know they have nothing to worry about as Fair hits a lay-up to end the half, and the Orange looking better from all angles. Rick Jackson emerges as the leading rebounder in the league, as well as leading the league in double-doubles with 15, eight of them this season. A Syracuse Orange team that was looking ghastly from three point range has corrected this problem with help from Triche, Joseph, and Southerland. In The January 15th game, even Syracuse center Fab Melo connects on a 15 foot jumper.
As the second half begins, the Orange, with the help of a big slam by Melo, are up 41-31. By the time there is 14:00 minutes left in the game, S.U.'s lead balloons to 51-31. The 20 point lead goes to show what excellent outside shooting had done for this team, and it appears that 7'0" Fab Melo is gaining confidence and will prove to complete S.U.'s unstoppable offense as well as compliment their noteworthy defense. The now 18-0 S.U. is set to play #5 Pittsburgh and on Saturday, # 7 Villanova.
# 51 Fab Melo
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