Saints Alive

The basketball season is upon us and not a moment too soon. Tonight SU gets its season started against the Siena Saints. As someone that lives in the Capital District, I'll give you a quick scouting report on what to expect:

Siena is lead by Head Coach Fran McCaffrey who has done a terrific job, reviving a program that in 3 short years was run into the ground by former coach Rob Lanier (sound familiar Syracuse football fans?) He took the job in 2005 inheriting a 6 win team and promptly lead them to a 15-13 record., The team was fairly depleted when he arrived, crippled with injuries, transfers and graduation and since that first season recruiting has picked up considerably.

Although they dropped their opener to James Madison on Friday, Siena is one of the favorites to win the in MAAC this year.

McCaffrey likes to play up tempo and they will certainly push the ball, looking to run at every opportunity. While not tall (the biggest guy on their roster is listed at 6-9) they are athletic and guards Kenny Hasbrouck, Tay Fisher and Ronald Moore are all disruptive on defense and can really shoot the basketball from behind the 3 point line. None of them are shy about pulling the trigger either. They'll look to get out and run and take 3s in transition.

Their most dangerous offensive weapon is 6'6" swingman Edwin Ubiles. He can put it on the floor and beat guys off the dribble as well as shoot it from deep. He's only a sophomore, but was the co-rookie if the year in the MAAC last season and a preseason first team all conference selection tis year. He backed that up by scoring 27 points on James Madison Friday night.

Inside their big guys do not pose much of a threat offensively or defensively. Their tallest starter is 6'7" and they will not overwhelm anyone with athleticism. Vermont transfer Josh Duell comes off the bench and at about 260 pounds, he's the only wide body they have in the paint. If they are to have any hope of hanging with Syracuse, their big guys will all have to box out like crazy and elevate their games, because they don't match up well with SU's size.

Overall Siena is going to try and control the perimeter, turn over Syracuse's young guards and hope they don't get beat too bad down low.

This is an intriguing match up - if things go well for Syracuse, Jonny Flynn, Josh Wright and Eric Devendorf won't have too many turnovers and SU's size differential will mean a large edge on the boards. Its a good game for Arinze, Rick Jackson, Donte Greene and the Belgian Waffle to get their feet wet and get some meaningful experience.

However, if Syracuse struggles with turnovers and Siena shoots it well, the Saints have a real shot at pulling an upset, and as Gardner Webb proved last week when they beat Kentucky, anything is possible, especially early in the season.

Siena's perimeter play and 3 point shooting will keep this one close, but in the end Syracuse has too many athletes. Syracuse should win this game by about 10 points, with a score in the 80s....so I'll go with 86-76 cuse, and a double double for Arinze.