SYRACUSE, N.Y. - No. 18 Syracuse is without Coach Jim Boeheim and has dropped consecutive games by 14 and 16 points after a 9-0 start. So it appears South Florida is catching the Orangemen at a great time.
Or, as USF coach Seth Greenberg warns, ``It's the worst time humanly possible.''
``It's great if they have all this self doubt and self pity and it's the holidays,'' Greenberg said. ``Or [do they think] it's enough of this crap, let's go strangle those son of a guns.''
Facing ranked opponents in consecutive games for only the second time in school history, the Bulls haven't played since losing 92-73 to No. 6 Florida on Dec. 8.
USF (7-1) seeks to end a 24-game losing streak to Associated Press ranked opponents, while Syracuse (9-2) tries to avoid its first three- game losing streak since 1996.
``It's really important for us to play well in the first five minutes and put some doubt in their minds,'' Greenberg said. ``The first five minutes they're going to be the attackers. We have to withstand the first five minutes. They're going to have all that anxiety and aggression of the last two games on their shoulders.
``If we survive and put some doubt in there, then it becomes an advantage.''
The Bulls will open against Syracuse without leading scorer Altron Jackson. The 6-foot-6 senior forward will not start because of disciplinary reasons from the Florida loss. ``He's not coming in after 30 seconds and he's not sitting the whole half either,'' Greenberg said.
Sophomore Jimmy Baxter will make his first career start for Jackson, while the Bulls will have senior center Mike Bernard available for the first time this season. Bernard, who had 12 points and five rebounds in last year's season finale against Charlotte, sat out the first eight games while serving an NCAA suspension.
``This is a statement game,'' USF center Will McDonald said. ``This kind of win takes a team effort. It would also earn us some national respect.''
McDonald said playing in the spacious Carrier Dome before 20,000-plus fans won't have a big effect. Junior forward Greg Brittian is anxious for the opportunity.
``It will be a good experience,'' Brittian said. ``I've never played before 20,000 people. The only think I can relate to it was when there were 7,000 at the state [high school] tournament my junior year [at Mount Dora.]''
This will be the third game Syracuse has been under the direction of assistant Bernie Fine since Boeheim underwent prostate surgery two weeks ago.
``They've struggled a little bit, but it's not indicative of their team,'' Greenberg said. ``They've lost their leader. It's different, the hammer's not there. I suspect they will rally around and be ready to attack us.''
The Bulls, shooting 44 percent from 3-point range, will be tested by the Orangemen's trademark 2-3 zone. Point guard Reggie Kohn, who has been playing with a stress fracture for the past four weeks, practiced Wednesday for the first time since Dec. 8, but will start.
``Facing their zone, it's not your hands-up 2-3 zone you see in Our Savior of Lutheran play in the women's CYO league,'' Greenberg said. ``It's an active, aggressive zone.''
Guys, Greenberg was also quoted as saying that not recruiting local guy Preston Shumpert was the worst mistake of his career.
