To help get the inside scoop on Syracuse, we got in touch with the guys over at CuseAdelphia, a blog about Syracuse athletics and Philadelphia Pro Sports. We gave them a little bit of info on the Hoyas, which you can view on their site, and they told us what they know about Syracuse. Here’s what they said:

Meet the Orange:

• Point Guard Jonny Flynn is a freshman averaging 15 points a game and 5.4 assists. He set a Syracuse freshman debut record with 28 points in the season opener. Flynn is a pretty solid shooting and can get to the basket. If you stop his path to the basket, he’ll probably get the ball to a big man for a dunk.
• Shooting Guard Scoop Jardine is a freshman filling in for the injured Eric Devendorf. He’s not much of a factor on offense, scoring five points a game, but plays solid defense. He’s a very solid stat stuffer, unfortunately one of those stats are turnovers. He had eight against Villanova Saturday.
• Small Forward Paul Harris is a sophomore and an absolute monster on the glass. Harris is only about 6’4″ but averages 9.4 rebounds a game. He’s a ferocious competitor and the best all around player on the team. Jim Boeheim has a short leash for him, one bad shot and Harris is on the bench. He admitted he quit against Villanova which is very un-Paul Harris like.
• Power Forward Donte Green is a freshman and the best scorer on this team since Carmelo Anthony. He’ll hit shots from anywhere on the court. He leads the team in scoring at 18.5 per. A little more consistency from Green and he could put up 25+ a game. On defense, he can block shots, but doesn’t do much else.
• Center Arinze Onuaku (basic pronunciation: A-rinse-a On-ew-ak-ew) is a redshirt sophomore who has great low post moves, but isn’t a great defender and an okay rebounder. He also can’t hit free throws, just 45% for the year.
• Off the bench Syracuse plays just two players: Freshman PF Rick Jackson who has a knack for blocking shots and a nice lefty baby hook. The other is SF/PF Kristof Ongenaet (On-ge-net) who’s a Belgian JUCO transfer. He’ll be the guy on the floor diving for the ball with the funny hair.

What Syracuse Does Best:

• Syracuse likes to push the ball straight up the court and get easy baskets early in the shot clock.
• S.U. is 10th in the country in two point field goal percentage at 56.1%. On a good night this team won’t take more than 10 three pointers unless Donte Green gets hot early.
• The Orange also pounds the offensive glass as they are 20th in the country in rebounding their misses.

How to Beat Syracuse:

• Slow the game down. Make them execute in their half court offense. This team struggles to score when the tempo of the game is below 70 possessions. Georgetown plays at an agonizingly slow pace. If they make Syracuse play their game, the Orange don’t have a chance.
• Make Roy Hibbert be a factor. Against the 2-3 zone last year, Hibbert was an absolute non-factor.
• Double team Arinze Onuaku down low. Cincinnati was the first team to do it and they beat Syracuse beat them pretty easily.
• Hit threes. Plain and simple. Hit your shots and the Orange are sunk.