(Sports Network) – The fifth-ranked Syracuse Orange are set for what certainly appears to be a mismatch against the Colgate Raiders Saturday at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse at 4 p.m.
Colgate opened its season with a narrow victory over Binghamton, but the next game yielded drastically different results. The Raiders dropped a 68-41 decision to Wisconsin, a team that plays tough defense much like this afternoon’s opponent. Colgate competes in the Patriot League and will play a rather modest non-conference slate after tonight’s affair.
Syracuse is 3-0. The Big East Conference power has won all three of its games by no fewer than 24 points, including Tuesday’s 98-74 romp over Albany. The Orange have not lost to the Red Raiders since 1962, despite playing them nearly every season.
Through two outings, Colgate is averaging just 59.5 ppg while allowing 71.0 ppg to opponents. The only double-digit scorer on the roster for the Raiders is Mike Venezia, as he is netting 14.0 ppg despite his 38.1 percent shooting from the field.
Kris Joseph has been impressive for Syracuse through the first three games of this new campaign, as he is netting 16.7 ppg on the strength of his 52.9 percent shooting from the field. Jam Southerland checks in with 13.7 ppg off the bench, and Dion Waiters is posting 13.0 ppg in a reserve role.