A lot can happen over the next three weeks for the Syracuse University men’s basketball team. A couple upsets could deflate the hype. But right now, Villanova is No. 2 in the country. Syracuse is No. 3. And the Carrier Dome is on the verge of uncharted territory.

The team announced Wednesday that it’s game against Villanova on Feb. 27 is sold out – a grand total of 34,616 tickets. Thus, the game should shatter the Dome attendance record and, in turn, a new NCAA record. On March 5, 2006, 33,633 showed up to see Gerry McNamara’s final home game, also against Villanova, to set the mark. For a game to be sold out this far in advance is extremely rare. SU will reportedly not sell more tickets in obstructed viewing areas.

Whereas the 2006 loss to Villanova celebrated the lifetime achievements of one single player, this year’s game could feature the nation’s two best teams. Both Big East schools are in the midst of one-loss, storybook seasons. Both harbor title hopes.

On Tuesday, the Orange crushed Providence, 85-68, to improve to 22-1 – solidifying its best start in program history.

There are plenty of games to go before the Syracuse-Villanova showdown. SU plays at Cincinnati, hosts Connecticut and Louisville, and then travels to Georgetown and Providence. Villanova, meanwhile, still has to play Georgetown, West Virginia, Providence, Connecticut, Pittsburgh and South Florida. There’s a chance some luster is lost, but both teams are clearly the cream of the crop in a loaded Big East.

Like Syracuse, the Wildcats have relied on a balanced scoring attack to reach this point. Everyone has chipped in. Six Villanova players are averaging at least nine points per game, led by do-it-all guard Scottie Reynolds. Villanova (20-1, 9-0 Big East) has had its share of close calls, including a pair of two-point wins over Marquette. On Tuesday, the Wildcats withstood a brief scare from Seton Hall to win, 81-71.

As for the Orange (22-1, 9-1), up next is a trip to Cincinnati on Sunday.

thdunne@syr.edu

Published on February 3, 2010 at 12:00 pm