GAME NOTES: The Syracuse Orange wrap up their season-long seven-game homestand today, as they entertain the South Florida Bulls in Big East play at the Carrier Dome. The Orange opened its current homestand with a narrow loss to Rhode Island (91-89), but since that setback, it has ripped off five straight wins to improve to 9-2 at the Carrier Dome. The most recent of those triumphs came on Wednesday, a 76-70 decision over St. John's in the Big East opener. Syracuse, which now stands at 11-3 overall, will embark on a brief two-game road trip starting at Cincinnati on Wednesday. As for USF, it has also played well of late, winning three straight games, including a 68-45 beating of Rutgers in its Big East opener on Wednesday. It was the 10th win in the past 11 games by the Bulls, who have certainly put their 0-3 start to the season behind them. The team now takes to the road, where it has gone an even 2-2 thus far. USF and Syracuse have met four times previously on the hardwood, with the Orange winning each one of those encounters.

The Bulls sank 44.6 percent of their field goal attempts and 7-of-15 from long distance, as they coasted past Rutgers on Wednesday. The team also had success at the foul line (11-of-14) and it even won the battle on the boards, 39-31. Freshman Dominique Jones headed the charge with 24 points and seven rebounds, while Kentrell Gransberry notched a double-double with 20 points and 17 boards. For the season, Jones leads USF in both scoring (16.2 ppg) and steals (28) and he is also grabbing 5.3 rpg and dishing out 3.3 apg. Gransberry is one of the top big men in the conference and he is averaging a double-double with 15.2 ppg and a team-best 11.5 rpg. Chris Howard adds 11.1 ppg and a team- high 5.5 apg to the mix, while Jesus Verdejo chips in with 10.3 ppg. As a team this season, the Bulls are averaging a solid 75.4 ppg and they are also outrebounding their foes by 5.3 rpg.

The Orange hit on 47.4 percent of its field goals and it held St. John's to a lackluster 38.7 percent shooting effort from the floor, as it notched a six- point win on Wednesday. It wasn't all good for Syracuse though, as it nearly let the game slip away by shooting a dismal 17-of-31 at the foul line. Arinze Onuaku led the way with a double-double that consisted of a career-high 23 points and 13 rebounds. Freshman Donte Greene tallied 22 points, while fellow rookie Jonny Flynn logged 14 points and seven assists. On the season, Greene tops the roster in scoring at 18.9 ppg and he is also grabbing 7.7 rpg and hitting on 40.2 percent of his attempts from long range. Flynn is averaging a solid 14.6 ppg for the Orange and he has also been in charge of running the offense, dishing out a team-high 5.9 apg. Onuaku puts forth 14.4 ppg and a solid 7.9 rpg, and Paul Harris nearly averages a double-double with 12.4 ppg and a team-high 9.4 rpg for Syracuse. Overall, the Orange has been explosive this season, averaging a healthy 85.7 ppg behind an efficient 51.7 percent shooting from the field.

Syracuse has the edge playing at home, but it must be careful not to overlook an up and coming USF club. Still, the Orange is the better shooting and more aggressive team and that will help it pick up the win today.