NCAAB Game Preview - Eastern Washington at Syracuse
Tue Nov 6, 2018 7:00 PM EST

MSU
87
Kansas
92
F
Duke
118
KY
84
F
IdaSt
79
Gonz
120
F
Tows
42
UVA
73
F
(N/A)
41
Tenn
86
F
BYU
70
Nev
86
F
UNC
78
Woff
67
F
Morg
77
Vill
100
F
USA
58
Aub
101
F
PorSt
57
Oreg
84
F
E WA
34
Syr
66
F
Fla
60
FSU
81
F
Norf
44
Mich
63
F
IPFW
71
UCLA
96
F
Citad
80
Clem
100
F
SeLA
63
LSU
94
F
Fairf
57
Purd
90
F
W Ky
55
Wash
73
F
(N/A)
54
WIGB
110
F
StFPA
67
Buff
82
F
RocMI
67
E MI
77
F
KTChr
82
MorSt
102
F
Rider
70
UCF
84
F
LoyMD
55
StJon
76
F
Merrim
49
Seton
89
F
Sien
67
Prov
77
F
ChiSt
55
Ind
104
F
(N/A)
58
Ford
106
F
Brev
51
SCSt
99
F
AlaAM
63
SoFL
80
F
(N/A)
58
JMU
86
F
Maris
69
Army
73
F
Colg
78
NJIT
81
F(OT)
(N/A)
58
Hamp
110
F
Detr
76
W MI
89
F
(N/A)
56
VMI
89
F
YSU
53
Pitt
69
F
IL-C
67
ND
84
F
FlaAM
65
JU
50
F
(N/A)
66
Harv
78
F
Stony
77
GrgWas
74
F(OT)
(N/A)
48
Furm
102
F
Clev
63
David
83
F
(N/A)
39
Dart
114
F
Presb
73
Charl
85
F
WIMil
53
BC
73
F
IndSt
69
Ball
86
F
(N/A)
54
AbCh
107
F
(N/A)
62
App
125
F
JWCO
65
AF
90
F
FlGlf
66
IlSt
74
F
(N/A)
38
NoKY
102
F
(N/A)
56
Longw
84
F
GWebb
57
VCU
69
F
USC-Up
52
SouthCar
65
F
Bry
63
URI
97
F
(N/A)
57
Radf
91
F
Navy
44
ODU
67
F
MtStM
55
NCSU
105
F
(N/A)
54
UNH
108
F
Chat
80
UNCC
69
F
(N/A)
76
LIU
109
F
CenCT
75
Hartfo
68
F
ETSU
68
GASt
74
F
Penn
72
GMas
71
F
(N/A)
67
CenMI
98
F
(N/A)
52
BGSU
91
F
(N/A)
50
Akr
70
F
SacHr
81
HolyC
93
F
(N/A)
47
CoCar
91
F
TxWes
71
SFA
83
F
LaSal
67
Temp
75
F
ETXB
64
SHSU
85
F
UNCG
74
NCAT
66
F
UMassL
75
UMass
83
F
Del
67
MD
73
F
UNCW
93
Campbl
97
F(OT)
InWor
37
TxTch
87
F
N AL
74
Samf
91
F
(N/A)
69
MTSU
91
F
(N/A)
54
NIU
93
F
(N/A)
60
Troy
95
F
ORU
50
MOSt
84
F
(N/A)
55
N TX
89
F
(N/A)
48
UND
104
F
(N/A)
51
NrthIA
97
F
(N/A)
58
Nich
86
F
ULM
75
JackSt
66
F
CS-Ful
94
AzSt
102
F(2OT)
LaTec
71
WichSt
58
F
(N/A)
84
UTRGV
91
F
Alc
56
Tuls
73
F
TNTec
61
Mem
76
F
(N/A)
43
LoyMa
75
F
HuTil
59
Lamar
79
F
Boston
77
NE
74
F
GrCan
74
SDSt
79
F
Corn
86
Bingha
75
F
Copp
63
Wisc
85
F
(N/A)
65
Valpa
121
F
TXTyl
66
TexAr
90
F
StLeo
64
Rice
80
F
MsVl
37
Nebras
106
F
NebOm
76
Minn
104
F
OakCi
53
APSU
114
F
Pacif
74
SIU-E
65
F
E IL
59
Tex
71
F
SEMO
65
StLou
75
F
(N/A)
66
USM
111
F
CenAR
55
Mizzu
68
F
ASU
53
IaSt
79
F
Mercer
67
UAB
75
F
South
62
Bama
82
F
(N/A)
53
Lipsco
97
F
(N/A)
80
UL
121
F
(N/A)
68
ChaSo
100
F
DelSt
56
ECU
81
F
IUPUI
69
Xav
82
F
Elon
62
Manh
56
F
MD-ES
53
GTown
68
F
W IL
67
Crei
78
F
(N/A)
63
S UT
109
F
Leh
85
Monm
61
F
(N/A)
71
UtVal
96
F
Cnten
62
NWSt
102
F
UCRiv
59
OrSt
72
F
(N/A)
63
UTEP
90
F
UtSt
101
MTSt
71
F
UMBC
42
Marq
67
F
Maine
50
Denv
63
F
UMKC
45
LoyIL
76
F
SprH
66
NOrl
95
F
CmbTN
58
TN-M
91
F
NDSU
56
NMSt
73
F
Winth
79
Vand
92
F
TXSo
72
Baylor
69
F
Seatt
74
Stan
96
F
AKAnc
63
Fres
91
F
UCSB
76
Wyo
66
F
ArkPB
60
SDSU
76
F
(N/A)
103
Portl
111
F
NM
87
CSNor
84
F
USF
76
UCDav
42
F
Web
66
USD
83
F
Ida
68
UCIrv
86
F
RobM
62
USC
83
F
No. 16 Syracuse hosts Eastern Washington in season opener
Mon Nov 5, 2018 11:48 PM

Syracuse took the right step back to respectability last season, barely making March Madness with a First Four appearance after failing to make the postseason the year before.

With coach Jim Boeheim returning his core from last season, including one of the best backcourts in college basketball with junior Tyus Battle (a 6-foot-6 preseason All-American) and Frank Howard, Syracuse figures to not be sweating out a selection into the NCAA tournament come March.

The 16th-ranked Orange, who finished 23-14 after advancing to the Sweet 16, open their season at the Carrier Dome Tuesday against the Big Sky's Eastern Washington in the first game played between the two programs.

It is one of the preliminary games of the 2K Empire Classic Benefitting the Wounded Warrior Project.

"I think we've got about 10 guys if everyone is healthy. We'll see how it all plays out but we're happy to have a lot of guys," said Boeheim, whose team beat Arizona State, TCU and Michigan State before losing to Duke in the Sweet 16 last year'

Three of Boeheim's guards may miss Tuesday's opener.

Howard Washington is recovering from ACL surgery. Howard has been slowed by a lower leg injury that required him to wear a boot. Jalen Carey, a highly touted freshman from New Jersey, sustained a left ankle injury during Syracuse's Orange-White scrimmage on Oct. 12.

Washington and Carey are game-time decisions while Howard is doubtful.

"We'd like to get our point guards back obviously, and we're a different team when we do get those back, but part of this is a good experience for the guys who play more than they'd get to play," said Boeheim, who has a career record of 926-368 since starting at Syracuse in 1976-77. "We'd like to get everybody back healthy soon."

In addition to returning group of perimeter players, sophomore small forward Marek Dolejaz and senior center Paschal Chukwu are also important starters coming back from last year.

Eastern Washington begins its second year with Shantay Legans at the Eagles head coach. A former player at California and Fresno State from 1999 to 2004, Legans coached Eastern Washington to a 20-15 overall record and 13-5 mark in the Big Sky last year.

The program made its fourth straight national postseason appearance when the team competed in the 2018 College Basketball Invitational (CBI).

"It's very exciting to start the season, but it's also exciting to get out there and play some of the best teams and players in the country," Legans said. "It's a great opportunity for our program and show the grit we've been talking about throughout our athletic department. We want to go out and show what we have."

Eastern Washington returns seven letterwinners from the 2017-18 team, including four starters.

Just three of the returning players will be seniors -- guards Ty Gibson and Cody Benzel as well as 6-foot-7 forward Jesse Hunt. Injuries sidelined Hunt and starting point guard Luka Vulikic for most of last season. Hunt returns after missing half of last season. Vulikic played in just eight games.

The Eagles lost Big Sky and Eastern Washington career scoring leader in Bogdan Bliznyuk, a small forward who was the league MVP and an honorable All-America selection last year after finishing with 2,169 points in his career. He is now playing professionally in Israel.

After traveling to Syracuse, Eastern Washington returns to the Pacific Northwest Friday play at No. 14 Oregon.

After the 2K Classic sub-regional games at home against Green Bay or either UMKC or Morehead State, the Eagles will play their next five games on the road, including games against Washington and Stanford.

"It's a challenge, but we'll be ready for tip-off on Nov. 6," Legans said. "We'll be tested on the road again, and our four games at home will be challenging as well. We're looking forward to the non-conference portion of our schedule preparing us for our league schedule and ultimately the Big Sky Tournament in March."

Team Record Comparison

Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Eastern Washington  
Syracuse  

Hot Players (Last 10 team games)

--%>