Feb 18, 2014
The number 1 ranked Syracuse Orange and 3rd ranked Wichita State Shockers are currently undefeated in college basketball. Both teams have dominated their competitors for majority of the season. Syracuse’s last two games against University of Pittsburgh and North Carolina State have literally come down to the last possession. Between Syracuse and Wichita State, the Shockers have played the season with lesser competition due to a weaker conference. The defection of former Missouri Valley powerhouse Creighton has severely weakened the conference. Missouri State is the only team to pose a challenge to the Shockers, ultimately falling in overtime. (72-69)
The Orange play in the ACC, which has more quality teams such as Duke, Pittsburgh, Virginia and North Carolina. Wichita State and Syracuse are both riding double digit win streaks. College basketball experts have predicted the Shockers to enter the NCAA Tournament undefeated. There is a strong possibility the Orange could lose two games before ACC Conference Tournament play. They have to travel to Durham, North Carolina and take on the 5th ranked Duke Blue Devils in one of the toughest venues in the country. One week later the Orange travel to Charlottesville and take on the 14th ranked Cavaliers of Virginia.
These top ranked teams are both lead by great floor generals. Syracuse is lead by freshmen point guard Tyler Ennis. The heady point guard has literally been the engine who makes the Orange offense flow, leading the team to a 25-0 record. With all the incoming fanfare going to fellow Freshmen Andrew Wiggins of Kansas and Jabari Parker of Duke, Ennis is making a strong case of winning the National Freshmen of the Year award. In the victory over Pittsburgh last week, Ennis kept the Orange’s season alive by hitting a 35 to 40 foot buzzer-beater.
The Wichita State attack is lead by sophomore point guard Fred VanVleet. Similar to Ennis, VanVleet has led the Shockers to a 27-0 record to start the season. The 5’11 point guard has a throwback game that exemplifies how the game was played in the past. He is not very flashy, compared to the high flying players at his position in today’s game. Fred VanVleet is a good defender who averages a modest 11.9 points per game to go along with 5.8 assist. After watching him perform on the court, he clearly stands out as the team leader.
Matching up the schedules for both teams exemplify the degree of difficulty as it pertains to the level of competition. The Syracuse Orange will have the tougher task of finishing the regular season and conference tournament undefeated. In the case of Wichita State, the Shockers are fully expected to breeze through the rest of their season along with the conference tournament. These teams will make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament because of the level of talent they possess. Wichita State and Syracuse are looking to make return trips to the Final Four after last year’s disappointing losses to Louisville and Michigan respectively.
