Catamounts  56    Orange  79

Vermont (25-9) vs. Syracuse (28-4)

Sports Network | March 19, 2010

GAME NOTES: With teams from the Big East Conference an endangered species after just one day of the 2010 NCAA Tournament, the Syracuse Orange try to prove that they deserved their top seeding in the West Regional as they take on the Vermont Catamounts at HSBC Arena in Buffalo.

On Thursday the Big East lost Notre Dame, Marquette and Georgetown, all of which fell to lower seeds. Second-seeded Villanova was taken to overtime before slipping by Robert Morris as well, so it is up to the Orange to help carry the torch for the remaining league programs.

Syracuse has had its ups and downs in the tournament over the years, the high point coming in 2003 when the squad won the national championship. The Orange, directed by head coach Jim Boeheim who is tied for eighth on the all-time NCAA Tournament wins list for Division I coaches with 42 victories, are in the tourney for the 33rd time and currently have a mark of 50-32. The team surprised many during the regular season as it reached the top of the AP Poll, but lost to Louisville on the road to close out the regular season, and then fell to Georgetown in an 84-71 final during the conference tournament.

As for the 16th-seeded Catamounts, they are into the tournament after winning the America East Conference Tournament last weekend with an 83-70 triumph over Boston University. The win was the 11th in the last 12 outings for the program, giving them a 25-9 record overall to go along with a 12-4 America East mark in 2009-10.

The history between these two squads, in NCAA Tournament play at least, certainly favors the Catamounts who posted a 60-57 win against Syracuse in first-round action five years ago.

The winner of this matchup will clash with the survivor of the Florida State/Gonzaga contest in the second round on Sunday.

One of the most dominant players that most of the college basketball world has never heard of, senior forward Marqus Blakely, plays much bigger than his 6-5 stature as he leads Vermont this season in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals. A two-time America East Player of the Year and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year in the league as well, Blakely is one of two players in the nation to lead his team in five statistical categories and is one of only three active players to have at least 1,500 points, 900 boards and 200 rejections. But more than just Blakely, Vermont coach Mike Lonergan also turns to Maurice Joseph (14.1 ppg) and Evan Fjeld (10.6 ppg) for significant offensive contributions as well. Fjeld, a 55.6 percent shooter from the field who made good on a staggering 65.2 percent in league play, contributes 6.1 rpg although his constant foul trouble keeps him from playing a more pivotal role. Defensively this squad has limited foes to just 39.7 percent shooting from the field and 31.5 percent behind the three-point line.

The biggest news for Syracuse heading into this tournament is that senior Arinze Onuaku will be unavailable due to a strained right quadriceps. The loss of Onuaku means the Orange will have to fill in the gap and find a replacement for his 10.5 ppg and 5.1 rpg. Unfortunately, it might mean that even more pressure is going to be heaped onto the shoulders of Wes Johnson, a First-Team All-American and the Big East Conference Player of the Year. One of four players to have started every game, Johnson accounted for team highs with 16.0 ppg and 8.4 rpg and also ranked among the best with his 60 blocked shots and 55 steals. A Second-Team All-Big East pick, Andy Rautins not only came up with 11.7 ppg and a team-high 86 three-pointers, he also delivered on 159 assists in order to keep everyone involved. Spreading the wealth was a huge key to the team's success as the Orange averaged close to 20 assists per game. It certainly didn't hurt that Syracuse made good on an impressive 51.6 percent from the floor, compared to just 39.9 percent for the competition.

No one needs to tell Syracuse that miracles are possible in this tournament because it lived the dream in 2003, and the nightmare in 2005. Blakely will surely gets his numbers in this meeting, so it is a matter of the Orange holding the rest of the Catamounts down in order to capture the victory.

GAME NOTES: With teams from the Big East Conference an endangered species after just one day of the 2010 NCAA Tournament, the Syracuse Orange try to prove that they deserved their top seeding in the West Regional as they take on the Vermont Catamounts at HSBC Arena in Buffalo.

FACTS & STATS: Site: HSBC Arena (19,200) -- Buffalo, New York. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: Vermont 1-3, Syracuse 50-32. Series Record: Vermont leads, 1-0.

Syracuse 81, Vermont 70