Syracuse Looks to Get On a Roll Against South Florida

Syracuse (19-4, 6-4) goes to Tampa to take on the South Florida Bulls (8-15, 2-8) Saturday (2:00 PM ET, Big East Network, ESPN3).

Significance: The Orange got over the hump Wednesday, beating Connecticut to end a four game losing streak. They will look to gain even more momentum going forward against a weak South Florida team.

Three Pointers:

1. What is Syracuse's mindset?: The distractions the Orange faced against UConn have died down, but they may still play a role. The bigger factor, though, is that Syracuse must not let this become a trap game. The Feb. 9 matchup against Georgetown is likely looming in the back of the players' minds. If they can focus on this game though, they should be able to easily handle the Bulls.
2. Can Scoop Jardine get it together?: He's been under a lot of scrutiny lately, mainly because of rumors. But on the court, Scoop Jardine has played poorly. After shooting 45% through the first 17 games, he's made only 30% of his shots in the last six. For Syracuse's offense to be consistent and balanced, Scoop must score.
3. Augustus Gilchrist needs to control the inside: The Bulls have had offensive problems of their own. Gilchrist leads the team averaging a modest 12 ppg. He's struggled lately, making only 6 of 25 shots his last two games. If he can get inside the zone, grab rebounds and score the way he did against Louisville and West Virginia, they may have a chance at pulling off the upset.

Prediction: This game couldn't have come at a better time for Syracuse; they can fix their problems against a weaker opponent and get some more much-needed confidence. I'm a little worried the Orange will come out playing sloppy, but they should pull away in the end with a solid victory.
Syracuse 72, South Florida 60

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