Wednesday Lay-up Lines

The best game of the night features Syracuse (16-1, 4-0) heading to DC to take on Georgetown (11-3, 2-2). The most intriguing part about this game is the Syracuse zone. Georgetown is the kind of team that is effective against a zone. They pass the ball well, they have shooters at every position, and they have a guy like Greg Monroe who can pick apart a 2-3 from the high post. That said, if Syracuse goes man (which they have been doing this year) they will probably play small, using Paul Harris at the four and putting him on DaJuan Summers (with Arinze Onuaku/Rick Jackson/Kristoff Ongenaet guarding Monroe).

The key for Syracuse offensively is going to be to get the ball into Onuaku. Monroe is a good shot blocker, but there is no way the 275 lb Onuaku shouldn't be able to muscle the freshman around. If Onuaku is effective, it will open up opportunities for some of the Orange perimeter players.

One thing the 'Cuse cannot do is get down early. Georgetown a very good defensive team and is so adept at controlling the clock. The Hoyas aren't Kansas. If they get a big lead, they don't give it up easily. I think the Hoyas get this one done at home. I just don't think Syracuse matches up well with them, meaning Greg Monroe should have another stellar night.

Six other ranked teams take the court tonight:

• 6:30 PM: Michigan State (13-2, 3-0) @ Penn State (13-4, 2-2): The Nittany Lions have been a bit of a surprise so far this season, knocking off Purdue last week. But Michigan State, who had struggled earlier in the year, looks like they are really hitting their stride. Penn State may be better than in year's past, but Michigan State is loaded. Kalin Lucas/Travis Walton shut down Talor Battle and MSU rolls.
• 7:00 PM: South Florida (6-9, 1-2) @ Pitt (15-0, 3-0): The point guard-less Bulls probably wish Ohio State transfer Anthony Crater could be eligible right now.
• 7:00 PM: Duke (14-1, 2-0) @ Georgia Tech (9-6, 0-2): Georgia Tech has fallen a pretty long way since their trip to the finals in 2004. Iman Shumpert is a good freshman point, but can he handle the swarming defense of the Blue Devils?
  
• 8:30 PM: Michigan (13-3, 3-1) @ Illinois (14-2, 2-1): Probably the second best game of the night. Michigan's 1-3-1 defense is very tricky, but the Illini have a solid group of experienced guards (Chester Frazier is the Tory Jackson of the Big Ten - great point guard flying below the radar nationally), all of whom can shoot. But the Wolverines have maybe the two front runners for Big Ten player of the year in Manny Harris (18.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, and 4.8 apg - good for 2nd, 3rd, and 5th in the conference respectively) and DeShawn Sims (16.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg). Michigan relies so much on their perimeter shooting, and I see them having an off night in Assembly Hall. Give credit to the Orange Crush.
• 9:00 PM: Wake Forest (14-0, 1-0) @ Boston College (13-4, 1-1): The two teams that beat UNC square off. The Eagles had a let down against Harvard after beating UNC. Arkansas had a let down against Mississippi State after knocking off Oklahoma and Texas. Can the Demon Deacons avoid that?
• 9:30 PM: Baylor (13-2, 1-0) @ Texas A&M (14-2, 0-1): The Aggies have a gaudy record against a Charmin-soft schedule. Baylor's back court should be too much.

The rest of the games you should be aware of:

• 7:00 PM: Elon (4-8, 1-3) @ Davidson (12-3, 5-0)
• 7:00 PM: George Mason (12-3, 5-0) @ William & Mary (6-9, 1-4)
• 7:30 PM: Fordham (2-12, 0-2) @ Dayton (14-2, 0-1)
• 7:30 PM: Cincinnati (10-6, 0-3) @ Rutgers (9-8, 0-4)
• 8:00 PM: South Carolina (12-2, 1-0) @ LSU (12-3, 0-1)
• 8:00 PM: Florida (14-2, 1-0) @ Auburn (10-5, 0-1)
• 8:00 PM: Arkansas (12-2, 0-1) @ Ole Miss (9-6, 0-1)
• 8:00 PM: Nebraska (11-3, 1-0) @ Iowa State (11-5, 0-1)
• 8:00 PM: Georgia (9-7, 0-1) @ Vanderbilt (11-4, 0-1)
• 8:00 PM: Marshall (8-7) @ West Virginia (11-4)
• 8:00 PM: Alabama (11-4, 1-0) @ Mississippi State (11-5, 1-0)
• 8:00 PM: San Diego State (12-3, 2-0) @ Wyoming (11-4, 0-1)
• 8:05 PM: Drake (13-4, 4-1) @ Illinois State (13-2, 3-2)
• 8:05 PM: Southern Illinois (7-9, 2-3) @ Creighton (13-4, 3-2)
• 9:00 PM: UNLV (13-3, 1-1) @ Colorado State (5-11, 0-2)
• 9:00 PM: Colorado (8-6, 0-0) @ Missouri (13-3, 0-1)
• 9:00 PM: Maryland (12-3, 1-0) @ Miami FL (12-3, 1-1)
• 10:00 PM: Utah (10-6, 1-1) @ Air Force (9-6, 0-2)