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Syracuse, Memphis looking to prove coaches wrong

Dec 20, 2008 - 3:20 PM No. 11 Syracuse (10-1) at No. 21 Memphis (6-2) 6:00 p.m. EST

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Syracuse is anxious to prove to its coach that it is worthy of its ranking. A road win against a Top 25 team might change Jim Boeheim's mind.

The 11th-ranked Orange get that opportunity on Saturday when they visit No. 21 Memphis.

Syracuse surged into the rankings after opening the season with nine straight wins, which included a thrilling 89-81 overtime victory over defending national champion Kansas during the CBE Classic on November 25.

The Orange's winning streak came to a screeching halt on Monday as they suffered a shocking 72-69 loss to Cleveland State when Cedric Jackson banked in a heave from well past halfcourt as time expired.

Syracuse bounced back with an 82-60 win against Canisius, but coach Boeheim was not impressed with his team, which struggled against its cross-state rival in the early going.

"I don't think it's slow starts vs. anything. I just don't think we're playing all that well," Boeheim told the Syracuse Post-Standard. "Even in the second half of games. At Kansas, we didn't play well in the second half. We played well in the last six minutes."

Memphis rebounded from an overtime loss to then-No. 19 Georgetown by claiming a 59-51 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock on Wednesday.

Like Boeheim, Tigers coach John Calipari was not happy with his team, which shot 33 percent (15-of-45) from the field.

"There are not many times that I'm at a loss for words, but I am at a loss for words," he said. "We'll get better. We'll go back to work. Our timid play has to stop and we have to move on."