The vision is already crossing Wes Johnson’s mind. The sea of Orange decked out in jerseys and T-shirts. The 34,616 fans in attendance, the largest on-campus crowd ever in college basketball. A Big East battle between the top two teams in the conference, both ranked in the Top 10 nationally.

‘It’s going to be breathtaking,’ Johnson said.

After 15 Big East contests, the game of the season is finally here. The game that has fans and players buzzing with excitement. The game that will help determine the Big East regular-season champion. No. 4 Syracuse. No. 7 Villanova. College GameDay.

It’s showtime.

No. 4 Syracuse hosts No. 7 Villanova at 9 p.m. as part of ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast, looking to clinch the top seed in the Big East tournament and first regular-season title since the 2002-03 season, when it claimed a share of the championship. With a win, the Orange will be the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament and grab the school’s ninth regular-season championship. With a loss, Villanova will be in the driver’s seat toward both those feats.

‘It definitely doesn’t (get any better),’ Johnson said. ‘I think everybody’s excited to see what’s going to happen and it’s going to be a fight. I think everybody’s coming into town to see a showdown.’

The last time College GameDay came to the Carrier Dome was Feb. 18, 2006, when the Orange defeated Louisville 79-66. That game brought 31,190 out to the Dome, which is good for the 43rd-largest attendance in Carrier Dome history.

The largest on-campus crowd gathering also came from that year on March 5, when senior Gerry McNamara played his final home game against Villanova. In that 92-82 win for the Wildcats, 33,633 packed the Dome.

Saturday’s game will crush the record set at McNamara’s finale by 983 bodies. The game sold out on Feb. 3, more than three weeks before the two teams even took the court. ‘Beat ‘Nova’ T-shirts have been a hot commodity across the campus. Fans are outside the Carrier Dome waiting for those seats.

‘It should be a fun opportunity for our fans to get out there and show their support,’ said shooting guard Andy Rautins, who was a freshman when McNamara played his last home game. ‘We have the best fan base in the country, so we’re looking forward to it.’

With a win, Syracuse will put itself ahead two games in the conference with two left in the regular season. That would guarantee the Orange the No. 1 seed in the Big East tournament starting March 8 and at least a share of the regular-season title. A win over Villanova and a win in one of the team’s final two games, against St. John’s or at Louisville, would seal an outright championship for the Orange.

For the Wildcats to have any shot at winning the conference regular-season crown, a win Saturday at the Carrier Dome is a must. The Wildcats would control their own destiny to a regular-season title and No. 1 seed with a win over the Orange, as it would just need to win its next two games to clinch those.

Villanova does have momentum going into this game, having won its last two games inside the Carrier Dome (three of the last four).

With so much riding on the game, center Arinze Onuaku is making this out to be like an NCAA Tournament game with lose-and-you’re-out rules.

‘We know that Villanova’s right behind us, so this is a big game,’ Onuaku said. ‘This is a must-win game for us, so this is how we are going to approach it.’

Johnson said the biggest part of the game for Syracuse will be controlling emotions. He believes the Wildcats will be fine, but playing at home in front of 34,616 will put the impetus on the Orange to stay within themselves.

He said he’s been watching previous College GameDays and waiting for his chance to play in one. Come opening tip-off Saturday night, he and the rest of the Orange will finally experience it. That’s when he’ll finally be able to fully describe what it will be like.

‘A lot of people are hyped about this situation, but until that day comes and seeing the reactions on our face and then drilling and the emotion going through everybody’s body, then we can answer,’ Johnson said. ‘Everybody’s hyped about it, but after the game the expression on our faces, then you’ll see.’

mrehalt@syr.edu

Published on February 25, 2010 at 12:00 pm