By GREG AUMAN, Times Staff Writer
Published January 8, 2006
WHEN/WHERE: 1 p.m.; Carrier Dome.
TV/RADIO: Ch. 28; 1250-AM.
RECORDS: USF 6-8, 0-1 Big East; Syracuse 12-2, 0-0.
COACHES: USF - Robert McCullum (27-44, third season; 71-89 overall); Syracuse - Jim Boeheim (715-243, 30th season).
NOTABLE: Few Big East arenas could baptize the Bulls like the Carrier Dome, where the Orange averages 18,523 fans. Syracuse has one of the Big East's best guards in 6-foot-2 junior Gerry McNamara (16.9 points) and two strong forwards in 6-9 Terrence Roberts (12.0 points, 8.5 rebounds) and 6-8 Demetris Nichols (15.7 points, 6.4 rebounds). USF must stay well under its average of 21.5 turnovers, keep center Solomon Jones (13.6 points, 10.2 rebounds) out of foul trouble and rebound as well as it did Thursday, a 42-22 advantage in a 57-53 loss to No. 24 West Virginia in Tampa. Senior guard James Holmes, averaging a team-high 18.7 points, has to bounce back after a 2-for-13 night against the Mountaineers.
TODAY: USF WOMEN AT PITTSBURGH
WHEN/WHERE: 2 p.m.; Petersen Events Center.
TV/RADIO: 570-AM and 910-AM.
RECORDS: USF 11-3, 1-0 Big East; Pittsburgh 10-3, 1-1.
COACHES: USF - Jose Fernandez (71-86, sixth season); Pittsburgh - Agnus Berenato (29-38, third season; 312-302, 21st overall).
NOTABLE: USF's first road Big East game is against the surprising Panthers, who went 13-15 last season. Pittsburgh lost to DePaul, whose only loss was to the Bulls last month in Tampa. The Panthers are led by 6-foot-3 center Marcedes Walker (17 points, 8.1 rebounds) and 5-10 guard Mallorie Winn, a Georgia Tech transfer averaging 16.2 points and 3.9 assists. Pittsburgh has the Big East's best 3-point defense, and it will try to contain USF junior Jessica Dickson, the nation's leading scorer at 23.9 points per game. The Bulls are close to full strength after losing guard Rachael Sheats, forward ChiChi Okpaleke and center Sharon Cambridge to injuries. All three played in Monday's win at Florida International.
