Projo Sports Blog

December 7, 2007 Archives

Kevin McNamara took some time this morning before flying to Syracuse to talk about Saturday's game between the Rams and the Orange at the Carrier Dome. Click the play button below to hear Kevin's comments, and see pictures of the two teams and their key players. Below the video player, you will find some excerpts from Kevin's comments about the game, which will be televised in Rhode Island on Cox at 7 p.m.

On the game: "It's a great test for Rhode Island. ... This would be the best team that Rhode Island will play -- potentially all year, but certainly thus far this year. Syracuse presents all sorts of issues for Rhode Island: great size -- they start a 6-9, 270-pound big man in Arinze Onuaku, who will be a major matchup problem -- and one of the best freshmen in the country, 6-10, 6-11 Donte Green, who kind of plays like Will Daniels. He wants to shoot jump shots but also can do a lot of damage inside."

On Syracuse's vulnerability: "This is one of Jim Boeheim's youngest teams. With the exception of Onuaku, who's a redshirt junior, and Eric Devendorf, who's a three-year starter (he's a junior as well), he doesn't have a lot of experience. Most of his best players are freshmen and sophomores, and the thing that comes last to kids like that is defense ... Syracuse did go on the road on Wednesday and win at Virginia for its best win of the season, and held Virginia to 68 points. So they're getting better."

Rhode Island's keys to victory: "They have to shoot the ball well. Rhode Island's lack of inside size will be exposed in a game like this; Syracuse's length and bulk inside is a real advantage for them. But Rhode Island neutralizes that with its offensive firepower. They have to come out and shoot, just like Massachusetts did [in its 107-100 victory at the Carrier Dome] ... Obviously they need huge games from their best players: Will Daniels, Jimmy Baron, Parfait Bitee, because Rhode Island -- they're going to try to outscore Syracuse."

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Today's sports cover looks at some of the famous guarantees in sports history. Shalise Manza Young asks the question: Will Anthony Smith join the likes of Joe Namath, or the likes of Fred "the Hammer" Williamson? Also, Kevin McNamara reports on PC's loss to South Carolina in Philadelphia, and Sean McAdam writes on the restocked Detroit Tigers.

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