GAME NOTES: The 19th-ranked Connecticut Huskies take their winning ways to the Carrier Dome, where they will tussle with the Syracuse Orange in a key Big East showdown. The Huskies come roaring into this event, as they have won five consecutive games, including three against ranked opponents. On Saturday, UConn wrapped up a short two-game homestand by posting a 60-53 triumph over nationally-ranked Pittsburgh. The victory not only improved the Huskies to 16-5 overall and 6-3 in the Big East, but it also pushed the team into the Top-25 for the first time since January of 2007. As for Syracuse, it has also played well of late, winning three straight and four of its past six outings. The Orange concluded a successful two-game road swing on Saturday with a convincing 87-73 victory at Villanova. Now at 16-7 overall and 6-4 in conference action, Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome, where it has gone 12-3 thus far. Syracuse leads the all-time series with UConn, 48-33, and it won two of three meetings last season, including a 78-65 triumph in the Big East Tournament.

The Huskies have made it difficult for opposing teams to get open looks at the basket this season, as they are holding foes to a mere 37.4 percent shooting from the floor. The team is also outrebounding its opponents by a solid 7.1 rpg, and that is in addition to leading the nation with 8.7 blocks per game. Offensively, the squad runs through A.J. Price, who is netting 14.6 ppg and dishing out 6.0 apg. Jerome Dyson ranks second with 14.3 ppg, but he has missed the last three games after being suspended indefinitely on January 25th for a violation of team rules. Jeff Adrien is one of several talented big men for UConn and he nearly averages a double-double with 14.1 ppg and a team-high 9.0 rpg. Hasheem Thabeet is another force down low and he chips in with 10.8 ppg, to go with 7.1 rpg and a team-best 3.8 blocks per game. Stanley Robinson hauls in 6.2 rpg and he rounds out the double-digit scorers with 10.2 ppg. In the squad's last game, Price dropped in 21 points and doled out five helpers in leading UConn to the win over Pittsburgh. Adrien turned in 14 points and six boards for the Huskies, who blocked 10 shots and held Pittsburgh to a dismal 32.2 percent shooting effort from the floor.

Much like UConn, Syracuse has done good job on the boards this season, grabbing 7.3 rpg more than its foes. The Orange has also excelled on offense, pouring in 80.3 ppg on an efficient 49.4 percent shooting from the field. Freshman Donte Greene paces this explosive attack with 18.3 ppg and he is also snaring 7.5 rpg and hitting on 37.6 percent of his long-range attempts. Fellow freshman Jonny Flynn produces 15.2 ppg and he is the one responsible for running the offense, handing out a team-high 4.9 apg. Paul Harris adds 13.4 ppg and a team-best 8.8 rpg to the mix, while Arinze Onuaku contributes 13.0 ppg and 8.3 rpg. In the club's prior outing, Harris tallied a career-best 28 points and collected seven caroms to guide the Orange over Villanova. Flynn put forth 24 points, and Green had 17 points and seven boards. Syracuse shot a blistering 62.8 percent from the floor and it also controlled the boards, 34-22, in the win.

Both teams are playing with a lot of confidence right now and that should make for a tightly played affair. Syracuse though, has more to prove and behind a fired up crowd, it should be able to get past a streaking UConn club tonight.